flowering broccoli raab

[jackyspratty]

As I expected my broccoli raab has flowered after the hotspell last week. I have 2 plants at the lotty and two in the flower bed at home. The ones in the flower bed are fine as they are pretty. My question is, should I leave the ones at the lotty, can I deadhead them etc, what should I do? I have space to resow and replant.

Didnt get any brocolli at all last yar as it all went to seed! Would like to have a little taste this year if possible any tips!

[maypril]

I'm not sure what you're expecting, but you should be eating the raab when the flower heads are still buds. Harvest the leafy bits with the buds, steam them and eat them.

The flowers are edible too, so maybe use them to brighten up some salads.

Some seed companies call it "broccoli raab", don't be confused by the name. It's not like the broccoli you get in the shops. If you're wanting a big head of broccoli like you get in Tesco you need to grow calabrese.

It's also nothing like the real broccoli (the purple stuff that you get in early spring)

[jackyspratty]

No I wasnt expecting calabrese type heads, expecting the buds, its just that I put them in the garden/plot, and the they started to bud, then flowered straight away, so wasnt able to harvest.Only had very small and few buds, just developing really. They are still pretty small, still with flowers on. Will I get more buds if I dead head? Should I leave them in situe, I know bees are loving the flowers, but should I resow on the plot?

[zazen999]

Nip them off and keep an eye on them; try to get them just before they flower.

Problem is, they don't really like it warm so bolt like billy-o.

[lettucegrow!]

Same has happened to mine.One minute growing well next, pretty little yellow flowers! Hens are happy though as they get them. I've been taking the flowers off hoping more will come. There's lots of side shoots.

[Hazel at the Hill]

The bees love the flowers! Leave a couple to go over if you have the room.

[hamsterqueen]

i grew raab last year and it did exactly the same..bolted before they had much chance to grow. my PSB was a dissappointment this year too.

may be worth nipping the flowering bit s off and hoping for a few harvestable sprouts

[jackyspratty]

Thanks all. Think I'll hedge me bets and do a bit of everything! Leave some in flower for the bees, deadhead some, and also have a go a resowing!