purple sprouting broccoli

[serenity]

Am going to try PSB for the first time this year, my first brassica actually and was wondering which varieties of PSB do you grow and why?

[Crisiwisi]

P S Broccoli

Checked my seed box, not a lot of help! I have a packet of "Johnsons Seeds", just labelled Broccoli, Purple Sprouting! In brackets on back: Brassica olracia (Italica).

It was packeted in 2000 - I find brassica seeds stay viable for ages - percentage of germination decreases year on year but no big deal when there are/were 600 or so seeds in the package.

I love the stuff to eat - the only sadness is that it's a "quick" crop - no sooner are you saying "Goody - the broc's ready" than the sun comes out, the world warms up and the blasted stuff's in full flower. Goodness knows what will happen this year.

[roitelet]

He Serenity,

Purple sprouting Broccoli is very easy to grow but it takes up ground for a long time. Sow the seeds in March or April and transplant them 2' apart when they have 4 - 6 leaves they will then crop in late Feb, to March.

I grow Early PSB so that I can clear the ground for other crops. It gets HUGE and I have to stake it so that it doesn't blow over I find that 4 plants are more than enough for 2 of us and I still give lots away

Hope that helps

[Snadger]

He Serenity,

Purple sprouting Broccoli is very easy to grow but it takes up ground for a long time. Sow the seeds in March or April and transplant them 2' apart when they have 4 - 6 leaves they will then crop in late Feb, to March.

I grow Early PSB so that I can clear the ground for other crops. It gets HUGE and I have to stake it so that it doesn't blow over I find that 4 plants are more than enough for 2 of us and I still give lots away

Hope that helps

Agree entirely! I have grown it for the first time this year/last year. Sown in May outdoors, it is just starting to 'head up' now! And this was the supposed early Purple Sprouting Broccoli!
Won't be growing it again as it takes up too much space for too long a time! I like to get two or three varied crops from each piece of land per year, not one!

[JennieAtkinson]

If I had to choose, so far, PSB would be my favourite vegetable. It does take a long time to grow, but WOW its worth the wait. It was beautifully delicious.

[serenity]

can I ask, did you have to net it? I remember as a child eating brocolli (calabress) for the first time. Unfortunately my sister found a gigantic caterpilla wrapped around the stalk of hers and has never eaten the stuff again even though she is in her 30s now

[Sue]

Serenity
Was that a cooked caterpillar???
Sue

[vicki lorraine]

Serenity
I have sown Summer PSB this year it is advised to sow in January and will be ready this summer. It is a variety which does not require a cold spell to bring on the heads. Its new this year produced by Suttons.
Broccoli (sprouting) summer purple.
Sow Jan - Mar
Harvest Jun - Sep

Will do summer and late PSB as i too love the stuff,

[supersprout]

Snadger, if you want fast broccoli, have you tried Broccoli Raab or Rapini?
Fast-growing broccoli pretty much all the year round. The link takes you to Nicky's Nursery's Broccoli page, scroll down to find it. Highly recommended!

[serenity]

hi sue, yes it was a cooked the worst thing about it was that my parents and I had already eaten ours

[Snadger]

I was thinking of trying calabrese this year as it is quicker maturing and would allow me to use the ground for another crop as well!

I will go now and have a look at your link to fast growing broccoli supersprout to see if I can be convinced!

[Snadger]

Snadger, if you want fast broccoli, have you tried Broccoli Raab or Rapini?
Fast-growing broccoli pretty much all the year round. The link takes you to Nicky's Nursery's Broccoli page, scroll down to find it. Highly recommended!

Looks good supersprout...should be easy to remember from Rab C Nesbitt...........Hey Raab!!!(said with a Geordie/Scottish twang of course! )

[Bex]

I've got some seeds from the Real Seed Company for a 40 day strain of Raab, I think its called Cima di Rapa. Never tried it so can't comment but 40 days is quite quick I thought.

[Poledragon]

I've got some seeds for a 60 day calabrese, funnily enough from the Real seed lot too. Makes smaller heads but is a useful 'in between' crop whilst you're waiting for other things to come ready.

[JennieAtkinson]

I grew calabrese last year, but unfortunately alot of it went to seed before we could eat it. I found PSB slower to bolt.