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General => The Shed => Topic started by: Digeroo on May 05, 2012, 14:53:12

Title: Brocolli stalks
Post by: Digeroo on May 05, 2012, 14:53:12
The stalks on supermarket brocolli (calabrese) seems to be getting longer and longer.  There seems to be a growing fashion to break off the excess stalk and leave it behind.  I have not done it yet but feel very tempted.   
Title: Re: Brocolli stalks
Post by: Melbourne12 on May 05, 2012, 15:12:15
It is all edible, of course.  Perhaps some people prefer the stalk to the flower?
Title: Re: Brocolli stalks
Post by: Digeroo on May 05, 2012, 15:42:45
It has never occurred to me someone might prefer the stalk.  I will have no problem getting rid of it if someone else will be enjoying it.  I cut it off and throw it in the compost.
Title: Re: Brocolli stalks
Post by: galina on May 05, 2012, 15:57:03
Quote from: Digeroo on May 05, 2012, 15:42:45
It has never occurred to me someone might prefer the stalk.  I will have no problem getting rid of it if someone else will be enjoying it.  I cut it off and throw it in the compost.

Marrow stem kale used to be grown for the soft bit inside the tough stem.  I use the marrow from inside brussel sprout stems, but the outer is tough and needs to be peeled carefully.  The inner is delicious, better than kohlrabi.  And yes, broccoli stem is delicious.  The stemmy bits go in the steamer a few minutes before the florets to be cooked at the same time.
Title: Re: Brocolli stalks
Post by: Jeannine on May 05, 2012, 16:50:32
I peel all my brassica stalks, sometimes quite deep but the insides are very tasty and not a bit tough.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Brocolli stalks
Post by: shirlton on May 05, 2012, 16:51:59
We eat a lot of stalk qith PSB otherwise you wouldn't have much left
Title: Re: Brocolli stalks
Post by: Digeroo on May 06, 2012, 07:51:24
Perhaps I have been discarding a treat.  But for me the stalk tastes cabbagy and I do not like it.  The further from the floret the worse the taste.

PSB is not so much of a problem because it does not spend so much time between the plant and the pot.  I never buy it.

Title: Re: Brocolli stalks
Post by: shirlton on May 06, 2012, 08:05:17
I would never buy PSB but I do love it. Problem is there is never enough. I am going to grow loads of it this year. Will be sowing it soon.
I also like it cos it looks like somethings growing during the cold winter. Lovely to see onions PSB and broad beans (if they survive) growing  instead of an empty plot
Title: Re: Brocolli stalks
Post by: Digeroo on May 06, 2012, 08:49:25
I have about 20 PSB plants and have managed a handful every day for weeks now.  But with the cold dull weather it is slowing down.  I lost more than half the plants to the winter.   

Next years has already germinated.  Perhaps I will try another batch, perhaps the later ones survive the winter better.

My plot is the only one on site which is more or less full all winter.  I hate to see bare soil.   Any spaces were full of wheat and rye which is now several feet tall.