Purple sprouting

I have 10 very large purple sprouting plants that are 4ft high. They were intended for early spring veg. One if them has begun to sprout and the tips are purple as you would expect but about 6 months early. This is not calabrese but is definate purple sprouting. Is there a summer sprouting type. The rest seem ok but again big for the time of year.
have I goofed.
PS Packet says Harvest Feb-March.
Could we have a new strain particularly if all you learned types do not seem to know the answer.

[ 27. July 2007, 03:48 PM: Message edited by: oldwinegum ]

 

I don't know if there is an early variety OWG but I had a similar experience last year when one the 5 plants I grew started sprouting in October. The other plants were fine and didn't sprout until the last of our brussel sprouts were finished in March.
I've no idea what caused the early sprouting, but one guess is root damage or poor rooting making the plant think it was dying and thus time to produce flowers and seed.

One thought - if you like early broccoli you could as an experiment try saving some seed for next year and see if the plants come early.

 

my purple and white sprouting broccli plants are now about 1 foot high.when the plants were 6" high they were attacked by flea beetle. they seem ok now and the plants look pretty healthy.

 

Thanks D.W.
As a rule I don't want early anything as we are over run with veg. It is just very annoying as with raised beds you plan against antisipated use, and when 10% of your crop produces at the wrong time it breaks a spoke in the wheel. (not that I am a ex accountant and no my life is not that planned)
But yours is a good idea, could be the start of a new????? no forget it!!! I just wish that I had retired 10 years ago.