Allotments 4 All

When does the sprouting happen? What are the signs?

And why aren't mine?!

(mutter... grumble...)

Dunno.

My white and purple sprouting are "resting" I think...

Most problems are due to insufficient length of growing time - they take 9 - 12 months to mature. Well, the ones labelled just "Purple Sprouting Broccoli do here, anyway. The bit you eat are the purple headed flower buds and their stalks- if you leave them and don't pick, they open up into tiny yellow flowers, like a lot of brassicaceae.

I hope that was a real word...

I have three plants - very top-heavy due to caterpillar damage last summer - BUT they are just starting to sprout and I can see the small purple heads. I've had to shore up the plants, but it looks like I will get quite a good crop. I must admit though that they are much later than last year. Another couple of weeks to harvesting methinks ;D

They take up so much space in my tiny plot that I've decided not to grow them this year. Leeks and parsnips will take their place once the harvest is over.

Tricia

I think I would have had great success had I not used them as pigeon fodder, still learning the hard way ::)

Netting at the ready for the next lot me thinks. :P ;D

Mine are being threatened with eviction too, since we have reached that busy land grabbing time of year. They have two weeks notice ...

isnt that just one of the best things about this site -  I had no idea that i wasnt the only one with non sprouting broccolli! It is so good to know that others are in the same boat. Did you all plant loads of romanescu cauliflower like i did last year, only to get one piddly head from the whole lot and the rest run to seed and cabbage white? please say you did.  I am going out now to give my purple sprouting a pep talk. ;D

I had to laugh when I saw the title of this post.

Just about 12 months after planting... and after a lengthy battle with drought and white fly... I finally have some purple happening.

But no sprouting, yet.

The plants have done well over the winter, one or two have half-toppled themselves but I have about ten that are now the best part of a metre high and about 60cm diameter.. lots of purple flushed leaves and they're looking good... but in terms of gettin enough vegetative growth for a harvest of brocolli tips.. I'm still not sure... it's a good job I'm patient... and in the case of these purple non-sprouting things.. I'm being extremely patient!

Quote from: bellebouche on March 27, 2006, 08:52:17
But no sprouting, yet.
The plants have done well over the winter, one or two have half-toppled themselves but I have about ten that are now the best part of a metre high and about 60cm diameter.. lots of purple flushed leaves and they're looking good

Had to laugh bellebouche, snap. Mine were bought from the local market as seedlings. They are magnificent plants, minus the sprouts - apart from a small flush at the end of Feb. They were obviously mis-labelled, should have been late purple sprouting ;D ;D ;D

I expect them around Easter - after all, the hungry gap is traditionally to the end of May, so they might yet earn their keep. And a bit of nifty work with the rotation (ha ha) plan means they can stay put til early June 8)

Oooh, you lot, how could you?! I only grow in my garden & p/s is something I'd never be without. Three plants is plenty, tho, it's so prolific when it starts going. Usually, here in the midlands, I aim to be picking from beginning of May and this carries on through to late June - just the time when I've little else to pick from the garden, so p/s is a 'must for me'. I think you're all asking for too much to expect to be cropping so early. I know I see it in the shops before mine are ready, but wonder where/how they've been grown.. THERE! Consider yourselves told ;D ;D

A curiosity, last year a friend gave me 6 plants of a sprouting broccoli plant that's supposed to go on for 3 years........called nine-something-or-another,(star?) and the curds are supposed to be golf-ball size...these grew to small tree size, formed a nice hedge :D and kenkew could have used the trunks for walking companions :o......these were so prolific even I was dumping shoots on the compost heap tho the curds were more marble than golf ball size - a 1st for me. 2 I pulled up in the autumn, 2 haven't survived the winter & 2 are limping along. One's been producing for the past couple of weeks and the 2nd isn't far behind.

But I'll be back to 'traditional' p/s next year, tho.

Quote from: bellebouche on March 27, 2006, 08:52:17

... I finally have some purple happening.

"Purple happening"....think you've renamed it beautifully ;D ;D ;D

A thought or two?

1. Great patience being shown - I would normally expect sprouting from mid-March?
2. Don't necessarily wait for the 'flowers' - it's the leafy stems that are the important bits. Pick from 3" long.
3. With new varieties, you can now harvest sprouting for mos of the year.
4. Don't knock the perennial one?

Tim, is that pic of Nine Star(or whatever)? Remember that you, too, were growing it last year.

Quote from: Roy Bham UK on March 26, 2006, 23:48:29
I think I would have had great success had I not used them as pigeon fodder, still learning the hard way ::)

Netting at the ready for the next lot me thinks. :P ;D

Me to :'(

Hurray that answers lots. Mine are looking pretty good altho the pidgeons had squashed down the netting and chewed the tops off some. Will have to keep an eye on things then.

i harvested my first spears yesterday. finally!
good to hear that the season will extend into april and beyond.

however, like tricia, i wont bother with purple sprouting again - they sinmply take too much space for too long on my bijou plot :)

will definately grow green/calabrese again this summer though!

That sounds like nine star perennial broccoli; it lasts for several years, and has heads like small cauliflowers.

Purple Sprouting is a fantastic veg. For this time of year any fresh veg is a bonus.
Don't give up, try an 'early purple sprouting' even with the cold spring we have had this my 'earlies' have produced a good crop over the last 4-5 weeks.
PS my late ones are still dormant, or at least thats what I'm hoping

Scumpy

Sprouting gives you the longest harvest of any brassica. So worth while.

Kishka - yes - or CCA as some call it.