I've bought some 'de cicco' seeds and was browsing about them, came across this snippet, anyone done this and does it work?
Harvest the central head then lay the plant over on its side for an explosion of side shoots that will just keep coming till the heat of summer. If you are in a relatively cool area as we are, plants may continue to produce for 6 months or longer. We don't plant a fall crop we just keep this one crop trimmed and enjoy the rewards. You just can't beat Calabrese
I do it to produce greens for the chickens after I have had the main crop.
I have read about it but never actually ate the side shoots that appear. I usually pull the plant and feed it to the hens so I can free up the ground for something else.
I don't lay calabrese on their side, but find with some types that once you cut the main stem, there's loads of realy good little side shoots come. Am still picking and eating from a few plants now, so it's well worth while leaving them if you can. Sown in spring 2009, they've been producing since about July. Am trying to recall varieties sown, am fairly sure one good one was Corvet, and think the one I'm picking now is Belstar. they both have nice compact heads, and the stems are great in stir fries.
I got a packet of brocolli of Calabria (franchi) and it produced rather small first head, but then went on producing more and more small shoots for four months. Looks a bit sad now the frost got it.