Comments on: First Signs of Sprouting Broccoli

By: Virgnia

Virgnia — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:44:57 +0000

I love the photo (I’m sure the broc. is great, too)–I admire how you’ve captured even the smallest moment of beauty.

Virginia

By: Summer

Summer — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:03:16 +0000

Wow! I’ve never had purple sprouting broccoli, but it looks so nice I want to grow some now!

By: mtp

mtp — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:19:03 +0000

Mango – I sow in March time usually in my coldframe. Molly-coddle them until they are through the worst of the frosts then keep them covered and protected from cabbage whites for most of the summer. Because of space issues in my garden I keep them in pots until around July time and then I plant them in the garden to get a spurt on before the frost come. Don’t forget to plant them quite low and firm them in well. The plants will get big and they have to withstand the worst of the winter weather. They’ll need staking too.

By: mtp

mtp — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:15:39 +0000

Hi Ian, My plants are about 1.5 metres tall. Pretty sturdy, staked to high heaven and with very dark green thick leaves. They’ve even withstood the hard frosts we had here last night. Spinach beet is totally flat on the ground!

By: Dobbies Gardening Blog Roundup

Dobbies Gardening Blog Roundup — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:11:38 +0000

[...] the quite brilliant My Tiny Plot, blogger Gill is getting excited about the ‘First Signs of Sprouting Broccoli‘ on her allotment. To be more specific, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, which is the lesser known [...]

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:36:42 +0000

How tall are your plants? I have some in tubs this year and wonder if they’re developed enough to produce. At the mo its dark when I leave for work and dark again before I’m home so its either get out there with a torch or wait till the weekend!

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:17:01 +0000

I haven’t grown any this year but will have a go next year. It will be interesting to compare it to calabrese.

By: Mangochild

Mangochild — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:34:29 +0000

Totally in the dark on this, so lots of questions. When do you plant it? How is it cared for in the winter? (Greenhouse necessary?) Having an option in the gap-time sounds very appealing.

By: Jane L

Jane L — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:50:49 +0000

Traditional early purple and late purple sprouting broccoli is most useful to have to pick in February/March/April when there is so little else – so don’t be too keen to get eating it ! Very cold weather may catch it too. This year it is developing much earlier than normal ( on the old fashioned types that is ) and may even need priotection. It is a favourite of pigeons so watch out any new growers !! We had one plant blow out of the ground on our bleak and windy allotment a few weeks back. Replanted it and it looks OK.

By: Zoe

Zoe — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:09:36 +0000

I love my sprouting broccoli, wouldn’t be without it on the allotment. I’m growing a super early variety, and at least one of the plants is ready to start harvesting now. And it keeps going right through the ‘hungry gap’ in the spring when there’s not much else growing. Very good for you too, what more could you ask for?