Broccoli

Hi all, hope some one can answer my question.
My other half bought some purple sprouting broccoli plants earlier in the year, and after planting and nurturing for some 2 months or so all we have to show is leaf so wondering if they were PSB. If not, could I make use of the plant as greens? or would they not cook properly? may be a stupid question I know, but............
Brian

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Brian.

They take a while longer than a few months to start sprouting, I normally overwinter them to get a crop now.

The trouble with growing them on longer is that you will run into the Butterfly season & the catterpilars will ave it away with them if you don't net them.

You could use the young growth as greens.

 

I think its about 40 weeks from sowing to harvest for broccoli isn't it? Unless its calabrese or 'wok broc' which I think are both much quicker to mature.

 

When I lived in Wales, it took 2 years to flower. On account of the sunrise at 10.30 from behind one mountain & setting at 2.30 behind the other one.

 

A max of 4 hours sunshine per day, that must have been grim.

 

And this was the view

http://www.stephenkettle.co.uk/images/slate_yard.html

 

And I thought I had it bad with next doors over grown tree imposing on us.

 

It was both sides of the Valley too. Grey everywhere. During the Day though, I worked in the Slate Mine, so that gave me a change of scenery.

 

It could have been worse, the tip could have been at the front of the houses :-)

Downer just recollected the worst Battle of Trafalgar day and two weeks of my life, spent on recovery duty 1966

Jack McHammocklashing (SAD)

 

Must have been horrific Jack. God bless you for sticking it out.

 

OMG, I only just made the connection 21st october, Aberfan. I'm lost for words.

 

No problem people, no PTSD here, we were too strong for that
ships of wood men of steel

Actually to be honest, as when going into battle, you are fed so much 100 proof rum, you can not remember what your name is let alone anything else
(I am talking nearly forty years ago, later when we had access to Nukes and big red buttons they stopped our Rum :-( )

It was handled with forces standard way of doing things (is all I will say) and I expect the same with current emergency services too

It is just the date, every year the Trafalgar night dinner, has other memories for some instead of the Great Battle Nelson fought and died

Jack McHammocklashing (Anchor Faced)

 

Oh jack if you saw my post taking micky out of ziggy you must think i have a really wharped sense of humour ( which i have but not to hurt others) but not making the connection until now feel awful so out of respect for those lost i have deleted my NOW NOT SO FUNNY remark

 

I read your post Jack, and felt my heart flutter. I was born on the day of the Aberfan disaster, at the actual time it was happening, and from being very small it was a word I always associated with my birthday, and not a year has gone by when it hasn't been on my mind. I was born at home, and my mother always talks about the midwife's words as the first news reports started to come in: "I've just brought one life into the world while more than a hundred others have gone out". It was the first labour she attended alone, as a recently qualified midwife, so I doubt she ever forgot it. Coming from Welsh ancestors (my grandfather, father and uncles all sang in the Welsh chapel's male voice choir) I've always felt a special connection with Aberfan, and I when I was a student I remember spending hours reading old archived newspapers from the day after the disaster. What a strange sensation to see something so tragic, knowing that was the exact moment you came into the world.
My parents recorded a documentary which was made for the 25th anniversary, which was tremendously moving.

 

I must admit I didn't get it until I saw something on the news today about Aberfan 45 years ago I think they said. I wish I hadn't seen the article. Absolutely horrendous.