Broccoli tips

My neighbour gave me his spare broccoli plants the other day (forgot to ask what variety) now I've not tried growing it before though I love to eat it. I did try purple sprouting 2 years ago disasterously, so has anyone any tips for me for a good crop?

 

Bit early for Spring PSB plants (but might be!), so they might be Summer PSB variety?

Although we like PSB we don't see it as a Summer veg (have LOADS of other stuff by then!) so we, now, only grow the Spring one. Just mention it in case you are wanting Spring and wind up with Summer :thumb:

Rock hard ground. Stamp it down - needs to be hard, really firm!. Stake it. Make some collars - 4" square/circle of cardboard with a small slit to squeeze around the plant, to stop the root-fly getting at them - then Net it against Cabbage White Buttery (need mesh needs to be 7mm or smaller I think - Enviromesh or Scaffolder's Debris netting (or a caterpillar-squashing daily vigil!)

Pick as soon as it is pickable size ... and then keep on picking to keep more coming (if it is PSB, if its Calabrese-type then cut the "heads" when it is ready

 

Thanks Kristen, I am assuming it's Calabrese, but best check with him I think. The plants are about 5 inches tall they have been in his greenhouse.

Right, collars to make next then and get some mesh, would thin fleece old net curtain be any good Is there a certain time they are more prone to root-fly? Sorry for all the questions lol Catapillars munched away on my savoy cabbage last year and there were just too many to pick off daily, so must net those too this year.

I thought PSB was picked in Jan/Feb that's what the packet told me to do when I tried two years ago but didn't have much success.

 

You can see why Kristan & I stick to overwintered brassicas :WINK1:

 

I had that problem when I lived in Blaenau Ffestiniog, on account of the sun rising from behind one mountain at 10.30 & setting behind the other at 2.30.

Took 2 years for the PSB to fruit :DOH:

 

Mmmmm yeah I can, but they were free lol Well I will see what happens and hope for the best