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Purple sprouting broccoli
Jason Cook
Posts: 139
in Fruit & veg
Maybe its a very bad idea, id appreciate your thoughts... I have some seeds for purple sprouting broccoli that I will start off in pots a bit later in the season. Once the seedlings establish, instead of planting in the ground or a veg bed, could I try it in a potato grow sack with a cane for support? I'm thinking this would leave me more room in the ground for other crops. If its not crazy I could plant 3 or 4 bags like this. Could I try this with regular broccoli too? Id really appreciate peoples thoughts.. Thanks
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Posts
Hi Jason, most brassicas like to be really well firmed in when planted, otherwise they tend to bolt and go to seed. For that reason, they are better in the ground. If you don't have much space, I would seriously consider growing something else rather than purple sprouting broc. It does take up a lot of space for the amount of crop you get back. Over the last few years I've been growing root crops like carrots and parsnips in containers and bags. You can get a surprisingly large number in a relatively small space and this leaves room in my veg beds for the brassicas.
I agree - plant your brassicas in the ground and use containers for other things, salads, roots and beans are all happy in containers.
Purple sprouting broccoli can even look quite good planted amongst summer annuals in a cottage-style flower garden, then when the flowers are over you can take them out leaving more room for the broccoli to grow over the winter.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.