Romanesco Brocolli - experience please?

[Jonny Green Fingers]

This year I have tried growing Romanesco brocolli for the first time. The plants look magnificent and withstood an onslaufgt from caterpillars, which prefered the sprouting brocolli.
The seed packet says heads are ready from September to October, but mine are only the size of a golf ball. Does anyone one know if they will coninue to grow and get bigger, or whether my crop is failing?

[scarey55]

Hello Jonny and welcome to the Vine.

Mine started out quite small and grew like topsy very quickly. I should think that if you keep them warm they will get to an "eatable" size very quickly. I have only grown them for the first time this year though and I am willing to be corrected by a more knowledgable Grape.

[Two_Sheds]

I grew them a couple of years ago ... I had ONE, and it was tennis ball size.

[Rodley]

I have grown these for the first time this year so have little experience......But, the one and only head I have had so far was small so I thought it would grow bigger and left it for a couple of weeks..it's now beginning to flower! Won't do that again if I get more heads on my good looking plants.

[vicky]

I think generally with home grown brocolli the heads are A LOT smaller than the shop bought ones...you trade size for taste! Try covering them and leaving longer but don't leave them too long or they will flower!
And welcone to the vine Jonny!

[amandaandherveg]

I tried Romanesco this year, gave up on it 2 weeks ago and pulled them up. This was my first year and a huge learning cuve, wont be bothering with them next year.

[PAULW]

Johnny
The Romanesco is just another Cauli, nothing special or more complicated you just have to watch the head, if the curd starts to open it is time to cut them, if the curd is the size of a golf ball when this happens that will be the size of the cauli,
This cauli I watched for a week before I thought I had better cut it, it did grow a little bit over the week but not that much.
AMANDA
Patience is a virtue.
PS that is a three inch pot next to it.

[Tam]

I love Romanesco as it has such a beautiful flavour, They make big plants so need a fair bit of room. They don't do well in an acidic soil, so a generous dressing of horticultural lime should be applied and feed the soil well. They should be well firmed in the soil.

[Rodley]

I had a quick look round my Romesco's this afternoon and found a few more had produced curds during the last few days so will keep a close eye on these to avoid them spoiling. Picked and had the "bolting" curd for dinner this evening - 'twas good! However, they do require a lot of space and I wonder if they are a bit of a luxury if space is tight.

[Jonny Green Fingers]

Thanks for all the advice/experiences. I think I planted them a little too close to each other. I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that they get a bit bigger. Still all good experience, and it's not like they've got club root.