[Farmer Woosnip]

Hello again knowledgeable veggie people,

What is purple broccoli supposed to do?

I thought it was supposed to over winter and produce next springtime?

It's grown to about 5ft high and in the last couple of weeks some small florets/sprouty bits appeared which have now flowered.

I'm wondering if it's gone over already and I've missed it or is that normal and it will produce a proper crop next springtime?

[mumofstig]

no the flowering means you missed the first sprouts.
Pick them off quick - so, hopefully, it carries on growing more sprouts for you

There are early and late sorts, and the weather had confused a lot of plants this year.

[Farmer Woosnip]

Thanks,

It's definitely not an early variety though, the packet says plant April/May and harvest March - May the following year.

Could it really be confused by a full 6 months?

[mumofstig]

obviously it is, or it wouldn't be flowering now

[someoneorother]

5 feet high is big, even for PSB. When did you plant it? Maybe it's just really liked the conditions you put it in and got ahead of itself

Also, bear in mind that even though it might be 6 months early by the packet, if it had gone according to the packet many of those 6 months would have been spent growing very slowly or not at all due to the winter temperatures.

[azubah]

I had this happen a few years ago and now don't sow the seeds until June. I think it is due to global warming which makes them develop too fast, and the instructions on the packet have not caught up with the conditions we have now.

[Gandan57]

With the summer we`ve had, it obviously thought July and August was winter.

[viettaclark]

 

[Farmer Woosnip]

Thanks everybody.

Some of them aren't quite as tall as the big flowery ones and they haven't produced anything yet either so maybe they will come good after winter.

I shall keep my eye on them....

[cooperman]

hmm
planting in April/May seems awful early for a WINTER variety.....
I only planted out mine at the end of June.  Plants are now about 2/3 ft high....

[Kajazy]

Exactly the same has happened to me! I carefully selected a range of varieties to see me all through the winter and spring - and yes, they're ALL now in full flower! Ho hum. I never anticipated a September glut of PSB, I must admit!

[strangerachael]

Same has happened to one of mine. It happened last year as well. Luckily the rest are still unsprouted, for now.

[sarajane]

I would say they were planted a little too early but remove the flowers you have  so the plant does not think it has finished and hope for more later in the year.

I think I must have planted my sprouts far too early as they are already on the stalk.  Tried some last week and they were utterley tasteless.  They really do need frost on them for any flavour.

[mumofstig]

the way the weather's going you may not have to wait long