[praveena]

Hi, I'm new to growing vegetables. My father kindly planted some calabrese for me, however I'm finding that they seem to be growing huge leaves and only a few or them have started to show the florets. Is this normal? The huge leaves do not seem very normal! Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Aunt Sally]

Give them a chance to grow praveena.  It's very early in the season just yet

[SUTTY1]

virtually everything is later this year, i've cut 1 small head so far and will enjoy the florets to come, give them time!

[praveena]

Sounds like I just need to be a bit more patient. Thank you both for your advise.

[dead eye dave]

I have a similar querie, in that it's my first time growing brassicas, and am quite taken aback by how large the appear to be having only been iin the ground for a few weeks...I wasnt prepared for that to happen and was initially wondering if they had gone to seed....but there doesnt appear to be any shooting up of a flower tip or anything....
So my question is...what kind of size/ height do brassicas, particularly brocolli, grow to???

[theakston_uk]

It's my 1st year of growing veg too and all the cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and sprouts I've planted are all starting to get big but it's normal. I've seen pictures in books and you'd be surprised that what you buy in a shop isn't anywhere near as big as the plant before it's trimmed ready for sale. You can tell how wide/big everything will grow by the guide on seed packets telling you to leave a certain distance between plants, hope this helps.

[oldcow]

I wouldn't worry, they do get huge (mine certainly are), I think it's a sign they're healthy!

[iggyboy]

Try a cabbage known as 'Killaton'. If you think you have large cabbage this season,you will be amazed at the size of this particular one. Another big plus with this is that it is clubroot resistant as well

[Goosegirl]

It will also depend on how much nitrogen you have in the soil. My calabrese, and other brassicas, grow enormous leaves as, a few years ago, my veg garden was a field and was sprayed with slurry etc. If they look green and healthy, don't worry - mine have just begun to show the main head down the centre - mmm - can't wait!!!