Purple sprouting broccoli question!

[Louise79]

Hi

Planted some PSB plants in my garden earlier this year. I have never grown them before. At the weekend I notice that one of them had produced at the top of the plant two long shoots that had yellow flowers on them. So I promptly cut them off!!

Then realised further down the stalk of the plant that they had small purple bits which look like very tiny purpley sprouty bits. Did I do the right thing by cutting off the flowers?? I have no idea. Can anybody help me!!

Thanks

[shirlthegirl43]

Yes, you did right. The flowers appeared because you hadn't picked the heads in time. Keep a close watch on those little purple sprouts and cut them as you need them. They will keep growing more so don't take the whole plant out.

[Louise79]

Hi

Thanks for letting me know - but they seemed to have gone straight to flower with nothing in between!!

[shirlthegirl43]

Have they had enough water? Lack of water can cause things to bolt early.

[Louise79]

Plenty of water which is a bit weird. Still at least if they are upto something I will just sit and wait!!

[buzzingtalk]

I noticed a few flowers on some of mine earlier - I will chop them off! On the seed packet it said they wouldn't be ready until winter though, but some of it looks as though it will be ready in a matter of weeks!

[Two_Sheds]

Things are generally early this year, but if your winter PSB is already sprouting, I'd say you probably planted it too early.
(mine go in the ground in July for Feb-Mar harvesting)

[bethduckie]

I suspect that was my mistake TS... one of mine has just produced a central head.

The other three are much maller than this one (dunno why) and showing no signs of it yet, which was as i had intended, but this one plant is racing ahead. I expect it will bolt!

[shirlthegirl43]

I suspect that was my mistake TS... one of mine has just produced a central head.

The other three are much maller than this one (dunno why) and showing no signs of it yet, which was as i had intended, but this one plant is racing ahead. I expect it will bolt!

No need to let it bolt - just pick it and use it and wait for the spears to appear further down the stalk

[buzzingtalk]

I think i planted mine in may/june, and it is producing yellow flowers already. I hadn't thought to pick it yet as the heads are still fairly small and the packet said it wouldn't be ready until next year! If I start picking at it now, will there still be some action for next year or will it be worth pulling them up?

[gojiberry]

Can be difficult to judge planting of PSB, to early and they shoot before winter starts, to late and the plants aren't strong enough to get through the winter. If plants are in flower now I can't see them being much good for a spring harvest.

Ian

[buzzingtalk]

Sweet, I take it they are good to eat now, even though they are early? A few of them look like they have a while to go yet so its going to be a nice staggered harvest through until autumn I think. In a way, this suits me better as we need to dig over all of the plots and manure, which will be impossible with these giant things in the way!

[bethduckie]

I took the central stem off before I went on holiday, and was rewarded on my return with a bunch of smaller ones, enough for a meal for the two of us. Result! It was very nice, too.