[dazmcg]

back in late may I transplanted out a bed of purple sprouting broccoli (raised in modules, some 30 plants) which have grown fantastically big and healthy.

My main issue is I thought it was supposed to start sprouting next year!! so far half teh plants have budded purple and some opened to white flowers. I've eaten a few of the smallish stalks, and they taste 'normal'.

Any ideas why this is happening? as they're in a dense patch of various other things, i've probably left them to their own devices most of the tmie with regards to water once they got big and dense (maybe a bit overdense?)...so was wondering if they're doing some equivilant of bolting as a result of competition/drought?

Any advice / tips on what to do ?
- cut and eat and regard the plants as exhausted once activity dies down?
- leave alone and wait for some main budding late next winter?
- or something of the two?

thanks in advance!

[Salmo]

Something of the two. Eat any sprouts that appear and leave it to overwinter. You may find that the winter cuts it back a bit but I am sure you will get plenty of sprouts again in the Spring.

I have found from experience that it pays not to be planting out PSB until early July. Sow the seeds 6 weeks before that.

[DD.]

I agree with Salmo on the planting time. Too early and it gives the plant chance to fully grown in one season, bolting in the warmer weather.