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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: antsuxx on September 17, 2011, 11:43:09

Title: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: antsuxx on September 17, 2011, 11:43:09

  Hi all,lovley dollop of rain again here in sussex, right , iv just bought a pack of purple cape broccoli ready to plant , any one grown this please , tips always welcome ,
                       thanks . Ant :)
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: saddad on September 17, 2011, 13:43:04
Purple Cape is a true Cauli... grows near the ground not up a tall stem. I'd have started it off before now... but try a few... it will grow through the Winter in milder areas... the "Cape" in the name is South Africa...  :)
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: realfood on September 17, 2011, 19:00:27
The central flower head is fairly small, but it should grow smaller side heads as well. It must be the hardiest of the cauliflowers, and I think that it must be closely related to purple sprouting broccoli, judging by colour and shape.
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: saddad on September 17, 2011, 19:24:31
I've had heads 10-12" across... but no side heads...  :-\
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 17, 2011, 20:45:39
Early records from the 19th Century describe it as a broccoli. It's probably been selected to be more cauliflower-like over time.
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: antsuxx on September 18, 2011, 09:34:18

  Well thanks, will be interesting to see
what the end result will be like then,

  :)
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: tim on September 18, 2011, 11:55:26
So sad it doesn't keep its colour when cooked?
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: plainleaf on September 18, 2011, 14:11:33
Robert_Brenchley early records from 19 century also
called patty pan squash marrows. I don't put to much stock in 19 century categories and convention .   Until a few years ago most people on this board could not tell difference between a marrow and zucchini(courgette) .
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 18, 2011, 19:24:32
Eh??? What on earth has a broccoli/cauliflower got to so with patty pans, marrows or courgettes?
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: plainleaf on September 18, 2011, 21:50:00
robert it is a matter of classification and categories in both case people did not know the right classifications the the veg were in though lack knowledge or ignorance.   
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 19, 2011, 05:45:43
I don't know about the US, but squashes weren't grown much here back then, so maybe it's not so surprising if they didn't distinguish them as we do now. What makes you think they were 'ignorant' about standard European veg? So much of what we grow now was developed back then, after all.
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: tim on September 19, 2011, 06:29:23
Given a Marrow & a Courgette, how do you tell them apart??
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: saddad on September 19, 2011, 07:22:02
Shame on you Tim... Size isn't everything....  :-X
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: Deb P on September 19, 2011, 08:02:03
The purple cape I'm growing is actually looking a lot more like PSB at the moment, so much so I'm beginning to wonder if I have had a mix up somewhere...... ::)
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: pumkinlover on September 19, 2011, 09:13:58
Quote from: tim on September 19, 2011, 06:29:23
Given a Marrow & a Courgette, how do you tell them apart??

Dunno but if you are looking for something to do with them- you cannot go far wrong with Gadget's ginger and marrow jam!!!!
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: Bean_Queen on October 14, 2011, 07:42:22
Quote from: plainleaf on September 18, 2011, 14:11:33
 Until a few years ago most people on this board could not tell difference between a marrow and zucchini(courgette)
Ya really know how to make friends doncha?   ;D
Title: Re: Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?
Post by: plainleaf on October 14, 2011, 16:55:16
Quote from: Bean_Queen on October 14, 2011, 07:42:22
Quote from: plainleaf on September 18, 2011, 14:11:33
  Until a few years ago most people on this board could not tell difference between a marrow and zucchini(courgette)
Ya really know how to make friends doncha?   ;D
it is not my fault that certain people had no idea what they were talking about as for the difference between the two.
the answer can be found in the book :The Compleat Squash"
or you you can email Dr harry Paris for further details.
there several threads already  deal with this subject.