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purple broccoli

ian505ian505 Posts: 6
in Problem solving
hi if any one can help i would be greatfull i planted purple broccoli about 2 months ago they look very healthy and are about 3 foot high but have no heads just leaves many thanks  Ian

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited October 2020
    I don’t expect to see signs of any heads forming until late feb/early March at least. Then the side shoots don’t really start forming until you’ve harvested the central head. 

    Unless your garden is quite sheltered you might need to stake the broccoli against strong winter winds ... l use a couple of strong tomato canes and twine  per plant. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ian505ian505 Posts: 6
    thank you   to impatient or what
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I always hope the purple sprouting broccoli won’t be too early ... it’s so useful for the Hungry Gap ... explained here (scroll down) https://www.farmdrop.com/blog/hungry-gap-seasonal-british-produce/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    @ian505  Hello Ian, I have Mr. F's purple sprouting broccoli too.  Mine are as yours.  Great plant - very healthy yet no sign of broccoli yet.  I have staked them as we have strong winds down here in the South of France.  So I'll wait with you!!
    PS.  Mine were started two months ago too.   I usually expect to start picking around or just after Christmas.
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

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