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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Gordonmull on August 30, 2012, 14:21:12

Title: Early PSB is very early
Post by: Gordonmull on August 30, 2012, 14:21:12
Yup I'm having a day of it! Carrot fly, bolting leeks and now....

Has anyone got any idea what's caused my PSB to start flowering now?

The variety is "Early Purple Sprouting" from T&M. It was sown early may and planted out into clay with a lot of organic matter dug in and a sprinkling of lime round the plant. I have done nothing else to it since, apart from spraying for caterpillars recently. Caterpillar damage is not extensive.
Title: Re: Early PSB is very early
Post by: Obelixx on August 30, 2012, 15:56:21
Mine's flowering early too and I expect to pick a crop in teh next few days.  Must be something to do with the cold wet and relatively dark, unsunny summer confusing its seasons.
Title: Re: Early PSB is very early
Post by: Gordonmull on August 30, 2012, 16:04:35
Any idea if they will continue cropping into winter? It's not too much of a disaster since the summer calabrese is starting to finish up now.
Title: Re: Early PSB is very early
Post by: Obelixx on August 30, 2012, 16:23:17
I guess we'll have to wait and see how long they'll last but I don't expect mine to survive winter anyway.  The last 4 have been so awful none of my winter veg has made it through - onions, leeks, garlic, kale, Swiss chard all goners. 

I'm planning to build a shelter round my PSB and cavolo nero to keep them going as long as possible but will be happy if they make it to Xmas.
Title: Re: Early PSB is very early
Post by: electric landlady on September 04, 2012, 18:58:36
Some of mine is sprouting now, and as far as I know it was the standard late stuff that isn't supposed to get going till next March!

I guessed it must be because our spring was like high summer, and then summer has been more like winter so it is all confoozled.

Means we can have yummy PSB now, so quite good really.