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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: minxy on June 13, 2009, 14:00:11

Title: Re: brocolli
Post by: minxy on June 13, 2009, 14:00:11
Hi

As I am in my first year of growing any veg I have yet another question!

I have a few broccoli plants which all seem to be doing quite well. Broccoli has started to appear on the plants, do I need to do anything with this or just leave the plants to develop?

Thanks in advance
Title: Re: brocolli
Post by: Tee Gee on June 13, 2009, 15:32:50
Let them grow as big as you can as seen here;

(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Calabrese/Calabrese/07-Ready%20for%20harvesting.JPG)

If you see signs of the head breaking up into florets get them picked as the is the first sign that they are ready to go over the top (to seed)

After picking the head keep the plants growing in the normal manner and they will produce secondary florets at each leaf axil.
Title: Re: brocolli
Post by: shirlton on June 13, 2009, 16:56:25
Oh to get broccoli like that TeeGee
Title: Re: brocolli
Post by: oliveoyl_25 on June 13, 2009, 21:05:22
I've just got heads on a few of my plants, but looking at them today, the tops are starting to look a bit loose and like they might flower... shall I chop them off?
Title: Re: brocolli
Post by: minxy on June 13, 2009, 21:24:00
Wow TeeGee what it would be like to get broccoli like that!!

Thanks for the advice, very useful. It is amazing how excited you can get by the site of a small broccoli head!! It is great for the children, they love watching everything grow, lets hope they develop into something worth putting on the plate!  :)
Title: Re: brocolli
Post by: oliveoyl_25 on June 14, 2009, 22:03:41
Any advice for my question above please?
Title: Re: brocolli
Post by: manicscousers on June 14, 2009, 22:07:15
I'd eat them, oliveoyl, you should get some side shoots  :)
Title: Re: brocolli
Post by: Tee Gee on June 14, 2009, 22:14:18
QuoteI've just got heads on a few of my plants, but looking at them today, the tops are starting to look a bit loose and like they might flower... shall I chop them off?

Any chance of a picture?

It is difficult to give you a defintive answer because different varieties grow in a different manner.

Note;

The dimples on a Broccoli/Calabrese are all flower buds and are usually dark green. If on looking closer you should see thin streaks of yellow this means the calyxes are breaking and you should get them eaten or frozen asap i.e. they are ready to flower!
Title: Re: brocolli
Post by: oliveoyl_25 on June 14, 2009, 22:40:34
No pics I'm afraid, but sounds like they are going to flower from what you said... definitely yellow bits visible... the buds were tight together but are starting to get bigger and look like they're going to go over.  The heads aren't very big and I only planted them 6/7 weeks ago... oh well.

Thanks  :)

P. S. They're Calabrese type, not a sprouting variety.
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