[jambop]

So this year for the first time I am growing some Brassicas broccoli/ calabrese being one of them... well I am starting to see some very nice heads develop now... we could be eating some as early as next week... I'm very happy. Thing is the variety is an F1 so they, as F1's do, are all almost at the same stage in their growth. So a couple of questions.  How quickly do the heads last before they need to be harvested ? and two is it true that after you cut out the head new smaller side shoot will grow ? Is it worth growing them on after you have cut the head off them ?

[greenjay]

definitely cut off main spear and lots of side shoots will grow, not as big but very worthwhile

[snowdrops]

They don’t last long in reality,perhaps a week depending on how warm it is.

[jambop]

If they don't last too long I will have to give some away I suppose. There are about twenty plants so if I do as recommended and leave the plants after I cut the main head out I will probably get some smaller bits to eat later in the winter. It never usually gets very cold down here and when there is a frost it has generally gone by mid day. I am really chuffed though because I now know I can grow brassicas over autumn and into the spring before the hot weather arrives. The cabbages and sprouts are going great too

[ryetek]

You could always blanch and freeze some of the heads assuming you have a freezer of course. We do this with our calabrese and it freezes well.

[ptarmigan]

They freeze well.   

[Pescador]

I never freeze them, as I'm not a great fan after they've been frozen. I find them rather soggy.
So I'd binge on them while they're fresh!!