Is my Broccoli (Calabrese) ready to harvest?

Hi, This is my first time growing Calabrese and I was wondering is this ready to harvest or should I let it get bigger? It's about 3.5-4 inches wide. Seems a bit small but don't want to leave it too long incase it flowers.

Thanks

 

I'd cut it, it will then go on to produce more.

 

Thats just about perfect, don't ask why the shop ones are bigger, you won't like the answer...
As @pete says, you should get a secondary crop from the leaf joints below, in 2-4 weeks. They probably will be smaller, maybe 2/3rds size,one per joint. The tender leaves around can also be eaten,even if my wife says not!

 

Even I like this stuff, but dont eat it anymore.
Really one of the best of what we used to just call "greens",

 

You could probably eat the stalk if you boiled it long enough.

 

Shchi !!

 

Kind of marrowbone for needy vegans?

 

Thanks all, I harvested it and left it in for some side shoots. Can't say I am too keen on the leaves after the caterpillars had their wicked way with it.

Another question I have re calabrese, can I still sow it in August? if so when would that be ready to harvest? I am in the south so first frost isn't usually until mid December

 

I'd say it's too late myself, not sure what others think.

 

I should probably add it would be grown under a coldframe in my raised beds rather than the ground, where that makes any difference?

 

Ok you might get away with but light levels are falling all the time.
I think you should get another couple of months out of your existing plants.

 

I have overwintered realseeds 60day# broccoli in pots (6") undercover, to get an earlier crop. *
Normal problems of slugs and white fly, but most survived. Placed outside in January c20th), and planted out as soon as weather brightened. Essential to cover with net as pigeons are hungriest then. . Cropped about 50-60 days after planting out. Worth doing.
*Looking back in the diary, these were sown as 'microgreens', around 28th August, the best potted on at 4 leaf stage and kept alive in the unheated greenhouse.
# this variety does not produce as large heads as your picture, but very welcome in the 'hungry gap'