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Talkback: Growing broccoli

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
You can try feeding cauliflowers once a month with dry blood (12% nitrogen)which is needed for the brassicas to develop good heads.I mix it with BFB and spread mixture around the plants.So far it has always worked for me.
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    well like pippa I managed a small crop of broccoli this year and still getting off shoots.
    But Cauliflower is my main problem allways bolts seem to have some coming at the moment for winter picking so fingers crossed.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Hi All
    I have tried to grow cauliflowers for 3 years now and the best I have managed is one about the size of a 10p piece!! The rest have really lush greenery about 2 ft tall but no cauli!!
    I would be very grateful of any advice. I have dug loads of horse manure and home made compost into the soil over each winter, is this where I am going wrong?
    Many thanks and happy gardening.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    well i'm into my 3rd season of brocoli and i love it, the 1st year was a flop, some went to seed, the rest were blitzed by cabbage white's but since then i've had brocoli from late may til oct, cover the early ones with netting so the butterflys keep off, keep them watered and away you go, i put some seeds in late july, just to try, and they have been just as good, not growing to the huge size of summer, but i've still a dozen in the garden, ready to eat, i would recommend brocoli to grow, i've grown calabrese and lord, planting them in pots then when sturdy enough planted them out, cane them up to stop wind damage, and enjoy
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have tried purple sprouting brocoli this year, lovely strong plants but no heads, can anyone tell me when they will shoot, I planted them out about May time. Thanks
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    yes me too. Purple sprouting big plants no heads as yet! any ideas Pippa?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I to have trouble growing brassicas. No Wonder, slugs, cabbage root fly, caterpillas, club root, pigeons etc etc. I have netted, limed, slug pelleted, root protected, picked off caterpillars on a low effort to reward ratio.

    I still, like Pippa, grow cauliflower, purple sprouting and brussel sprouts generally the results are disappointing.

    If someone knows the answer to the perfect brassica without resorting to chemical warefare then let me know.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    can any one tell why my cauliflowers
    always bolt i have tried everything but they always bolt
    many thanks
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    All brassicas are very hungry plants so just animal manure is not enough.Nutrient content of animal manure is0.6%of N,0.1%P205 and 0.5% K02 so you have to feed them more.Fish,blood and bone as well as dried blood are organic fertilizers (concentrated organic fert.)not chemicals.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Purple sprouting won't be ready yet, give it until January!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Try green sprouting next time - it crops much more quickly than purple sprouting!
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