PSB - Flowering

[chris]

One of my PSB plants is flowering (small yellow flowers), which I think are from the purple buds. Is this an indication that the plant may be stressed? It's been sprouting for probably a month odd, have had quite a few spears (?) from it already.

It's got quite bad CWB all over it, I keep trying to take them off but it's too tall for my netting now. (On a side note, CWB aren't poisonous are they? I've a "thing" about caterpillars and just can't bear squishing them in my hands, I try to flick off and stamp on them)... if that makes any such difference. I take the eggs out as soon as I see them under the leaves, but they're persistant beggers!

[Two_Sheds]

One of my PSB plants is flowering ... Is this an indication that the plant may be stressed?

It's a sign that the plant has finished growing and is now making seeds. Game over, I'm afraid.

btw, why did your PSB flower in July? Is it a summer variety?

[chris]

It's an Extra Early Sprouting vaerity apparantly (named: "Xtra Early Sprouting").

I've probably 8 or so other plants, none of which are sprouting yet, so was just curious... haven't treated it any differently

Thanks, I'll let the sprouts that are forming grow a big larger then compost it.

[Two_Sheds]

It should be producing spears in Dec/Jan then?

I sow mine in April/May, plant out on the lotty July/Aug. You don't want it out too early because it doesn't like summer heat and will, erm, bolt

[rustylady]

Thanks, I'll let the sprouts that are forming grow a big larger then compost it.

Don't let them get too large - pick them young and tender and eat them. BTW, cut off any that have turned into yellow flowers.

[chris]

It should be producing spears in Dec/Jan then?

I sow mine in April/May, plant out on the lotty July/Aug. You don't want it out too early because it doesn't like summer heat and will, erm, bolt

Aye, I thought that I should be expecting sprouts around Jan/Feb. The others are definately fine though, I've a feeling that this one is panicing as it's too close the others in the bed it's in (sqft bed) - didn't realise they grew so large

Don't let them get too large - pick them young and tender and eat them. BTW, cut off any that have turned into yellow flowers.

I've always wondered that, can I compost veg that's flowered - is it due to the risk of the seed remaining in the compost?

[rustylady]

I've always wondered that, can I compost veg that's flowered - is it due to the risk of the seed remaining in the compost?

You can certainly compost the flowers, they won't have formed seed yet and even if they do they shouldn't survive the compost heap. If they do it doesn't really matter. You just treat them as weeds and pull them up if they grow in the wrong place when you use your compost.

[chris]

thought that may be the case - thank you!

[annacruachan]

Funny about PSB. I particularly chose the late sprouting variety when buying seeds this year, and guess what?!! They grew huge and started sprouting in July! I probably planted them out too early, and being grown in fishboxes they are probably a bit stressed - I'd object to being grown in a fishbox!
Same thing happened last year, but they keep on producing, having a final flush in the spring. Best of both worlds, eh?

[catkeeble]

What's CWB?

[vicky]

Cabbage white butterfly!
I take scissors with me and chop them in half in situ as I don't like the green juice either!

[chris]

Ah, didn't think of that - I'll snip them in half too. Slugs, Snails, Spiders, Aphids, whatever - I don't mind handling. Caterpillars on the otherhand, just go through me.