Allotments 4 All

Hello all

This year (unlike last year) I have managed to keep my PSB alive, and it is looking very healthy. In fact some of it is nearly 5 feet tall, and I can virtually shelter from the rain under it.

However it's not producing any shoots. Is this just because it's too early, and the shoots will burst forth in a month or so? Or has it put all its energy into growing massive at the expense of actually having any broccoli, and if so how can I stop this from happening again?

Also, several of the plants are not showing any signs of being purple. Again, is this normal in people's experience?

Sorry I don't know the variety - it was just sold as "purple sprouting broccoli" - Johnsons seeds. The plants are about 18" apart which with hindsight is definitely too close, but they were so tiny when I planted them out. I stamped the ground down as hard as I could as I understand that's what brassicas like. The sprouts next to the broccoli seem to be doing fine (I have baby sprouts - hooray!) 

I've never grown this before so am sorry if these are silly questions....any info would be welcome!

Thanks in advance all xxx

PSB flowers in the Spring to take advantage of the bees as it is a biennial.

Have patience and you will be rewarded, but beware of the pigeons, they love it.

Far be it for me to dispute AAL's experience, but must add a couple of things.

1. Ours were HUGE, before they were decimated by Caterpillars. I've re-planted.
2. They DO need staking - well - or they are likely to collapse, & you have them doing right angled turns to the light.
3. Without knowing the variety, can't say if you're missing out. PSBs can sprout from July to May. As AAL says - wait for it. So worth it!

You should get them about March/ April when there are few other greens about. I know a lot of people get fed up waiting and pull them out thinking that they are not doing anything.



I agree that they need staking but take care not to disturb the roots when you do it. It can be fatal (to the plant).

The sprouts can be quite small but just gather loads, they will keep supplying new ones. Even the leaves (they rarely have in supermarkets) taste lovely. I cook the whole lot, as soon as possible after picking.

should i be worried that my psb is only a foot and a bit tall?
lbb

LBB

As you will have noticed I am back again after spending some 4 weeks in the sun and then having to catch up on the allotment.

There is no need to worry about your PSB it grows like crazy in the Spring and is better small now as it gives less wind resistance.

Quote from: allaboutliverpool on October 04, 2008, 09:06:37
LBB

As you will have noticed I am back again after spending some 4 weeks in the sun and then having to catch up on the allotment.

There is no need to worry about your PSB it grows like crazy in the Spring and is better small now as it gives less wind resistance.

ok i'm looking forward to it,
glad you enjoyed the sun :)
lbb

Same here.  Mine is huge but some sprouty bits and I planted them too close. I have picked about a handful and cooked it with everlasting spinach.  I also got the sprouts and psb plants mixed up.  They still have white flies when I shake them.  My sprouts are starting but have blown.  Is this lack of water or not firming them up.  I had this trouble with sprouts last year.  I agree they start of so small, next year will definately give them more space between.  Also I promise to label things.  I will try and find the seed packet, think it was from Morrisons to see when they should be ready.  Perhaps I planted them out too early.  Next year I will do more research and try and buy recommended seed, not just go to Morrisons and get my 4 packets for a £1 or whatever. 

I germinated loads of psb's in the summer, as per....and as per with great germination I offloaded plantlets onto neighbours/friends and left myself with 5 plants. This year 3 have grown enormously, which I've put down to the wet reasonably mild conditions this year....hoping for the growth to slow down now it's getting colder :-\

I've 3 in a row in one part of the garden which I'm calling Mr.P, Mrs.P and little Baby P - order of growth. No reason I can see for this variance in growth but all are healthy so I'll wait and see.

leccylady....did you plant 'ordinary' psb or the 'perennial' stuff which is supposed to go on for abt 3 seasons? I tried this one year and mine, too, grew to hedge proportions. I topped them eventually and still they produced in abundance from the side shoots..

If you didn't stake them when you first planted them, best to do so now.

Borlotti, well why not Morrisons for seeds? Many of us swear by our raddish seeds @29p per packet from Lidl's... 8)

Lishka

OK will stick with Morrisons seeds and hope PSB slows down a bit.  Just thought I might try some more expensive ones next year to see if there is any difference.

Well, you've got germination, you've got plantlets, why pay more? The rest is up to you....planting too close together (I do that EVERY year and every year I have to thin them ::))

:)

Thanks all, I will stake them (carefully!) and wait till next year to see if they produce.

I assume it's the 'ordinary' kind as it didn't say it was perennial. I didn't realise you have to wait till the following year to see any shoots.....duh. I'm sure it will be worth the wait as we love broccoli in this house.

Thanks again xxx