Tenderstem broccoli gone to seed?

[BlueMod]

Hi all.

As a new gardener, I'm hoping somebody can help me. I have some tenderstem broccoli that has grown yellow flowers. Is it likely that they've gone to seed? It seems pretty early for that to me, but it's my first year of growing so I don't know if it's normal or what!?!?

Assistance greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Niall

[maytreefrannie]

I know little about it, but we have some this year and several have flowered - this has prompted me to pick some (unflowered) heads to encourage further growth. What I've picked are very small but they've tasted lovely.

Anyway, I'm sure someone more knowledgable will be along soon. Good luck.

[BlueMod]

Thanks for the reply. WHen you say you've picked unflowered heads, do you mean plants that haven't flowered, or the actual broccoli heads, regardless of whether the plant has flowered or not? Does that make sense?? Sorry if I'm a bit thick, I need things explained in great detail to me at the moment.

[maytreefrannie]

I picked heads which had not flowered - they were small, still tightly 'packed' - they were delicious steamed and cooked in butter.

I cut off the flowered heads and put them in the compost. I felt that would give the best chance for the plants to keep producing more broccoli heads. If I left them on to go to seed, I THINK the plant would then stop producing.

Perhaps some wiser gardener will comment on whether this was the right thing to do.

As I said, this is the first year we've grown this.

[SarzWix]

I think that's the best way to do it, if you want to try and keep the plants going - cut off all of the flowering 'points' even if the florets are tiny, then wait for it to produce some more. If they go straight up to flower/seed, then you'll know to give up on them.

Lots of mine have either gone to seed or just not matured yet, which were supposed to be ready in late spring. I think this year's severe and late frosts have just confused them. Most of mine has been turfed out to make room for sweetcorn, with just a few plants left in to give them a chance.

[BlueMod]

Thanks for the advice, I'll cut off the flowers tomorrow.
Maytreefannie - love your location comment! My dad was a Cork man & I have family in Bandon.
Sarah - great avatar. Who painted it? It looks very familiar but can't quite place it.