(Non) sprouting broccoli

What did I do wrong? Sowed summer purple sprouting broccoli at the right time, nurtured to small plants in the greenhouse, covered the plants with mesh as they grew to protect against cabbage white (successful), plants grew to sturdy 3 ft high -ish but hardly a broccoli flower to be seen (now october!). Even the one or two where there was a growing head to take off didn't really produce side shoots. Ground manured with organic manure well before planting. Could they be too close together (I hate to throw plants away) - mine are about a foot apart in all directions. I've got winter plants coming along nicely so if I need to do anything to those to ensure sprouting, help would be appreciated.
MD

 

I didn't know there was summer purple spouting brocoli.

Been a while since I grew it.

But it used to always sprout around March April time.

 

Hi Cr1tical,

Not had sprouting broccoli that comes on in the same year. I planted some out in the spring that I expect to start cropping late winter.

Gathered up some (what I thought were ) PSB self seeders & planted them in a block,

2 of them turned out to be propper broccoli with heads about 4" already.

Leave you're plants in, they will produce a multitude of heads after winter.

I blanch them for 2 mins with some citric acid & then open freeze them before packing into bags.

 

Thank you both. It's a Thompson and Morgan "British breeding especially for summer cropping etc etc". Packet says sow Mar to Jun, harvest Jul to Nov - perhaps I haven't waited long enough. (The other lot are more standard, sown this year for cropping after the winter). I'll wait a bit!
MD

 

I'll post an update when(if) I begin harvesting!

 

The eternal requirement of the gardener ................ PATIENCE!!! :wink:

 

Absolutely right, they don't always come exactly when it says on the packet.
For everyone who showed interest - we've started to harvest!
MaxD

 

I got plants from the local shop, green sprouting broccoli, I was picking sprouts that summer, and they were brilliant and sweet. There was no variety on the plants, and the shop doesn't know what they were, and havent had them since. Any suggestions?

 

:rotfl:A friend gave me my plant so I don't know when she sowed it but I was very excited to find that I had some purple sprouting broccoli when I las visited my allotment, I was very happy!!

It was the extra early purple sprouting 'Rudolph'

Haven't tried it yet but it's described as high yielding and tasty..