Brocolli is one of the few veg's my whole family will eat, so this year I want to grow more and extend the season over a longer period, what types would you recomend to extend the picking season?
Is autumn/winter/spring cropping possible?
Thanks in advance.
we grow calabrese all year, romanesco broccoli during summer and autumn and psb for when the others tail off..I like to grow it more than cauli 'cos cauli doesn't freeze well :)
Try Purple Cape cauli for the early season ie now...
Purple on the plant green on cooking... :)
Parthenon grows what is one of the largest headed calabrese available. Harvesting in as little as 80 days. Sow in succession throughout early spring for harvesting June-October. They can also be sown September for an early spring crop of headed broccoli.
http://www.kingsseeds.com/kolist/1/5/11009.htm
Marathon are sown June-July for harvesting October-early December. This variety grows just as large.
http://www.kingsseeds.com/kolist/1/4/11008.htm
Both varieties supposedly produce offshoots that you can harvest after cutting the head. I usually just pull out the roots to make way for more crop. I don't bother with the side shoots.
I always get a caterpillar hiding in mine.
I soak in salty water.
Rinse under high force water pressure.
But every year one caterpillar will only succumb to the cooking process.
I know it wont hurt me, but it still puts me off.
I totally agree with KT up to the point where he says;
QuoteI usually just pull out the roots to make way for more crop. I don't bother with the side shoots.
I grow Chevalier and Marathon although I gave Belstar a go last year and quite liked it. Giving it another go again this year (some seed left) to see if it a consistant grower.
Generally; I find that my varieties don't all head at the same time which helps to extend the season.
I find Chevalier heads about a couple of weeks before Marathon meaning that as I finish with Chevalier Marathon is ready.
Then when I have finished Marathon the side shoots on Chevalier are ready then a couple of weeks later the side shoots on Marathon are ready.
So it is not uncommon for me to be picking calabrese for two months or more.
So as I see it it is down to variety selection.
Tenderstem is a good one. It crops for quite a while.