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Has my broccoli bolted?
Orchid Lady
Posts: 5,800
Hi all, I am attempting (again) to grow broccoli and sprouts and got them muddled up when planting. However, I am pretty sure this is Broccoli, but has it bolted or should it look like that already? Sorry for the daft question but they have never got this big before And I wasn't expecting any actual broccoli for a while 
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Yes, I think they have as they should have grown bigger than this before producing heads. However, all may not be lost as they will produce side shoots. Cut all of these early heads off now - you may have enough for a meal - and then side shoots should soon start to appear at the joints between leaves and stem. If you only have a few plants it may not be worth it though as side shoots (aka spears) are always much smaller than the main head.
The sprouts are at the back Phillippa if this is definitely broccoli, I know it looks like broccoli but think I am so shocked that it looks like I'm succeeding that thought it couldn't possibly be!! Most definitely in shock now LOL!!! OMG.....I've done it
(Well almost, as long as nothing comes and eats it!!)
Hmmmm, I posted before reading Bob's.....oh well, not as clever as I thought then
It happens to us all, OL, especially when there's a dry spell at a critical point in their development. You can help by planting them deeper (up to the lowest leaves) when you transplant them, assuming you started them in trays or modules. Do that when they have 4 or 5 true leaves. Regular watering is also essential - if they dry out, it triggers them into flower (which is what the head is really.)
I am pretty sure that the first time I grew it, which is years ago, something like this happened, and I just cut it off, ate it, and then the plant continued to grow and kept sending more out, which I kept harvesting and eating. And that was broccoli. I never got heads like you get in the shops, but maybe it was purple sprouting or something similar. Anyway, the 'anything' that comes and eats it should definitely be you and yours!!
I think it's probably a watering issue Bob as I did everything else you said, yes I did grow them in pots indoors and planted them out when they were quite big. The ground is quite dry though so I think I have failed to water them properly ......... Muppet me!!
I still have another 3/4 that look ok so will go and give them a good soak.
Thanks, let's hope I have better look next year.
No worries Philippa, at least I had that sense of success for a couple of minutes
You are picking-up this gardening lark really quickly, OL!
All these little tricks and tips add-up and I'm sure you will have a better crop next year! 
We all started off knowing virtually nothing, after all!
Thank you Bob, broccoli for tea tomorrow it is then and lots of lovely broccoli spears