Can I plant these now?

[Droopydrawers]

Ok, here's my first question as a novice so please excuse me if it's a daft one. Walking round the garden centre a few weeks ago I spotted some broccoli seedlings described as frost-hardy. That made me think it must be something that can be planted out at this time of year. So I brought them home and planted them in bigger pots. Now everything I read says you should plant out broccoli in the spring.
Can these go on the plot now? They are getting too big for the pots and I don't want to waste them if possible. We have a nice open sunny plot but it's on the edge of a meadow and will probably get a bit windy. If they do go out what kind of protection will they need?
Thank you in anticipation.

[Bigmallly]

Do you happen to know the variety?

[Droopydrawers]

Sorry Bigmally, that would be too easy. First lesson, keep the labels. All I know is some are green and some are purple-sprouting.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Sounds like you've done a good job potting them on and they will be fine to plant out at the plot, I would think. Make sure that you net them or the pigeons will make mincemeat of them by the time you've put your spade away.

[Droopydrawers]

Thank you. Mr D has tracked down the labels in the shed. Lesson 2, talk to each other. Some are Cape variety and the rest are purple sprouting.
It'll be good to get something planted, and I'll go and sort out some netting.

[Bigmallly]

I may be mistaken but Purple Cape may be a purple cauliflower.

[Zelenina]

Cape broccoli Cape Broccoli Introduction - Riverford Organic Farms

[Kristen]

I plant Sprouting Broccoli plants out in June / July, at that time they are 4" - 5" tall. This is for a Spring crop. No harm in planting yours out, but if they are Spring harvesting varieties then a) I am doubt full that they will come to much and b) the garden centre should never have had them for sale (recently) ...

... my garden centre has all sorts of vegetable plants for sale well out of season, which i think is despicable - not to mention rows and rows of acid loving Rhododendrons, and not a spoonful of acid soil within sensible shopping driving distance ...

[sparrow100]

If you have them, why not stick 'em in the ground? There's nothing to lose. Netted from the flying rats and any lingering cabbage whites (still drifting about hopefully down my way) and probably staked with canes as they are going in late and it's a windy plot. Am sure that they will be fine, but they might just develop a bit later than those which went in earlier in the year. Mine went in in early September, which apparently is late, but I get good results from them usually.