Growing brocolli advice please.

[bramble]

I want to try to grow some brocolli this year. I don't have very much space but would like to be able to fit in a few plants.
I am wondering is it worth giving over the space to it or would I be better off not bothering.
I don't want to grow the purple sprouting variety but would like to grow a green variety that puts out smaller side shoots after the main head is cut.
I grew some a few years ago which I bought as plants and it was a great success but can't remember the name.
Any help/advice appreciated.

[rustylady]

What you're looking for is Calabrese

[chris]

I believe PTD few good results with calabrese "Hero F1".

Good sized heads from small plants, iirc.

[Rhona]

I don't think it's 'true' broccoli but try Raab/Rapini - we tucked it in amongst the borders last year. Grows very quickly, lovely flavour - good in pasta dishes.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Calabrese Green Magic is a sure fire winner. I get 8 plants in a square metre which will give me 8 full heads followed by the equivalent again in small side heads.

They are hungry so unless you intend to supplementary feed you will have to enrich your ground when planting at these sort of spacings.

Potty

[Alison]

I believe PTD few good results with calabrese "Hero F1".

Good sized heads from small plants, iirc.

OK, what does PTD mean? Tried googling and didn't get any likely hits so will have to ask.

[hollychap]

ptd = pots tubs dustbins potstubsdustbins another vine member

[Alison]

ptd = pots tubs dustbins potstubsdustbins another vine member

Eh? Still makes no sense

I believe PotsTubsDustbins few good results with calabrese "Hero F1".

[hollychap]

other members on here sometimes abbreviate a members name i am sometimes referred to as hc holly chap, ptd potstubsdustbins

[Potstubsdustbins]

Just call me Potty.

What makes no sense is Chris got the name wrong Hero is a spring cabbage.

Potty

[Alison]

No I know who your are I just didn't understand what Chris was trying to say, reading back I think he missed out the word "got" or "had". Think so anyway.

[Piggle]

I had great success with calabrase first year grew it, I just chucked a few plants in the ground I had just cleared. Didn't bother netting it , feeding it or anything and it produced more heads than we could eat.

Sadly in the 4 flowing years I have failed to replicate this success and this year I couldn't even get a seedling past the first true leaf stage.

How utterly frustrating.

[chris]

My bad. Old age isn't it! Also, bloomin phones auto correct does my head in and I can't be bothered fixing it afterwards so very possible I missed a word

[Moopmoop]

Last year I planted Calabrese Marathon F1, literally planted them in the ground and watered them, nothing else. They were great, only brassica that had any success for me. I sent a few of these seeds to the VSP, they're still there if you would like to try them without buying any.

[veg man]

Last year I planted Calabrese Marathon F1, literally planted them in the ground and watered them, nothing else. They were great, only brassica that had any success for me. I sent a few of these seeds to the VSP, they're still there if you would like to try them without buying any.

Yes as above planted these myself they just grow themselves good heads on them