It’s getting to that time of year again, when you start to think about (gulp) next year’s harvest. It’s time to plant out over-wintering Brassicas like Broccoli, Kale and Winter Cabbage. The seedlings should be pretty sturdy before planting out and they’ll need protecting against Cabbage Whites still. But come the first frosts they should be strong little plants ready to bare the brunt of the Winter. In harsher climes or on exposed plots you might need to protect them all Winter long. Here in the sunshine state of Bath, UK :) I don’t need to do that. Last year my Broccoli stood through the snows and everything. Just remember to plant them quite firmly and even stake them if your plot is particularly windy.
My Purple Sprouting Broccoli is finally nearing harvest. Honestly, you need the patience of a very patient saint to grow this thing. This year seems a particularly painful year. It’s already April and it’s only just purpling up. In previous years we’ve been eating it by early March.
But, that said, I’m very excited about the prospect of eating Purple Sprouting Broccoli. If you’ve never tasted it, then do it, and very soon. It’s the most Broccoliy tasting thing you’ll ever taste. It’s one of those vegetables that is worth growing, even though it’s probably the most expensive Broccoli you’ll ever have on your plate (cost/hour of your time that is). But still, I will grow it every year and I can’t wait to get it in the pan.
We’ve had some snow at mtp (hooray!). Not a whole lot but enough to get me worried about my Broccoli. So last night I threw a fleece over them. This morning it was like waking up to the three spirits out of A Christmas Carol. A bit spooky!
Underneath their blanket though they’re bearing it well. A little droopy but nothing some winter sun won’t fix. Come on Broccoli!
I’m pretty sure I saw the first signs of my future Sprouting Broccoli harvest today. Each branch has a tiny little sprout, tinged with purple, beginning to show. This is where the small bunches of curds will form. Ooh I can hardly wait. Purple Sprouting Broccoli is one of my favourite vegetables from the garden. You can hardly buy it in the shops (maybe at a farmer’s market) but it tastes sooo much better than common Broccoli (actually Calabrese) that it’s worth waiting nearly a whole year for.
I made sure that the plants were staked firmly and even earthed them up a little to stop wind rock. It would be a disaster if one of them fell over!
