Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Benandbill on June 22, 2013, 06:22

Title: Autumn Spear
Post by: Benandbill on June 22, 2013, 06:22
I planted some of this towards the end of May and I think I must have binned the packet.  The leaves are pretty large now and small florets about the size of a 10p are coming through.  Does anyone know what I can do to encourage the growth of the florets?  Do I have to pick some leaves off?
Title: Re: Autumn Spear
Post by: Rosehip on June 22, 2013, 08:57
My outdoor broccoli has spearheads about 2 inchs or so wide,they will get to 6/7 inches and I usually cut the main head off then and use or freeze it,I have lots of broccoli  :D then the plant will develop side shoots that will be smaller and I harvest them over a few months.I water them well and will feed them during this time. Hth
Title: Re: Autumn Spear
Post by: Benandbill on June 22, 2013, 13:45
My outdoor broccoli has spearheads about 2 inchs or so wide,they will get to 6/7 inches and I usually cut the main head off then and use or freeze it,I have lots of broccoli  :D then the plant will develop side shoots that will be smaller and I harvest them over a few months.I water them well and will feed them during this time. Hth
I hope I get it right this year, as tried it a couple of years ago and they came to nothing.  Let's see if mine get to 6/7 inches  :blush:
Title: Re: Autumn Spear
Post by: compostqueen on June 22, 2013, 15:55
Some food in the form of manure pellets, lightly sprinkled around the base of the plants or a watering of manure water.  Or a mulch of rotted manure wouldn't go amiss. Brassicas are hungry plants and they need sustenance at the heading up stage, or floret stage, to keep them producing. Also you must keep picking them  :)
Title: Re: Autumn Spear
Post by: Benandbill on June 23, 2013, 07:06
Thanks compostqueen, I think I'll put some chicken pellets around the base of each plant and pick one or two of the bottom leaves off.
Title: Re: Autumn Spear
Post by: Benandbill on July 02, 2013, 06:54
They're still hopeless, I might have to give up on these.  They're just getting taller with no middles.  I have watered in some chicken pellets but still nothing.  Are the leaves edible, because if they are there's plenty to eat  :(
Title: Re: Autumn Spear
Post by: m1ckz on July 02, 2013, 07:32
patience lol  mine are just 7 inches across an still growing  :ohmy: :D ::)
Title: Re: Autumn Spear
Post by: mumofstig on July 02, 2013, 09:12
They're still hopeless, I might have to give up on these.  They're just getting taller with no middles.  I have watered in some chicken pellets but still nothing.  Are the leaves edible, because if they are there's plenty to eat  :(

The leaves are edible but they are for Autumn harvest - why are you expecting them to be anywhere like ready now  :unsure: They grow about 2.5ft tall
Quote
An abundance of delicious green spears from September to November
Suttons seeds (http://www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/Vegetable+Seeds/When+to+Sow+Vegetables/Vegetables+to+Sow+in+April/Broccoli+Autumn+Spear+Seeds_152214.htm)
Title: Re: Autumn Spear
Post by: Benandbill on July 02, 2013, 19:38
Ah, thanks m1ckz and mumofstig, I shall try and be patient  :)