[wyandotty]

Have just been given some broccoli plants and told that they have already been hardened off so can go straight in the ground.  Is this OK or is it a bit early still, I have a fleece cover if needed.

[PAH48]

As I know it , it is usual to plant them out in June-July...
However if you have the space to do so try some in late May,
the rest later if you can hold them back...in a cold frame or whatever..

[DD.]

As PAH48 says, it's rather early.

Planting them early can lead to them bolting in the autumn and no crop in the spring. I'm not even contemplating sowing mine yet.

All you can do is as PAH48 suggested.

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, i sow mine in the autumn for spring cropping, if you want earlier try italian sprouting.

[Paul Plots]

I read recently that there are some varieties of purple-sprouting that are designed to give an early, speedier crop. One PSB can be harvested in late summer.

I have a pot full of small seedinglings that will be left to grow in the cool until I want them for planting out later in the year - cropping next spring. If you use a deep (12") pot they develop steadily (if kept in a cold-frame and then in a cool outdoor spot)..

[galen]

I read recently that there are some varieties of purple-sprouting that are designed to give an early, speedier crop. One PSB can be harvested in late summer.

One of which I (and Ice) are trying to grow this year! Have 6 plants on the go in the unheated greenhouse at the moment ready, after moving to 5 inch pots in a couple of weeks, to plant out in late May. Will report back how they go

[noshed]

Mine are fine under an enviromesh cloche. They should be fine now as long as you harden them off.

[Paul Plots]

My ordinary-planting-time-PSB is growing well in a small (probably 6" pot) so I will pot them on in one mass into a 12" (space for the roots) and let them get on with for a while.

This year I must reserve a space for them on the plot......... last year late in = smaller plants when fully grown and less to pick 

Still delicious 

[DD.]

Anyone tried white sprouting broccoli?

I sowed and planted purple & white at the same time last year, half the purple stuff bolted in the autumn & is now over.

The white remained sturdy & is still producing. The spears are far more solid and producing loads the size of a 10p piece, the main spear being even bigger.

[lucywil]

we have white and purple, dug the purple up last weekend as it was bolting but the white is still going strong.

[DD.]

Same here Lucy, ripped our purples out 3 days ago, whites still producing.

[Elcie]

My purple is still producing.  Amazing as by mid-Feb there were only the leaf spines left due to pigeons/caterpillars/aob!  Have never tried the white, might give that a go this year.

[strangerachael]

I was under the impression you sow psb in spring for spring cropping the following year. They are described as slow growing (10 months in the ground). Lots of mine failed this year though.. I might try sowing later next year.

[Debbie D]

My PSB has only just started sprouting! I had just about given up on it although we have been eating the leaves for a bit but yesterday spotted some purple sprouty bits - yaaay!

[andreadon]

mine sprouted while i was away last week!
and i'm so happy it did too, because i've been waiting sooo impatiently all winter! i'd have been out htere every ten minutes to see if it was ready to eat yet.... 

i'm questioning why you've been given plants that have been hardened off in the spring?  when were they sown? 
surely it's not possible to hold them off now until the proper time - if they're kept in the warm they'll grow spindly.  i would be tempted to put them out into the garden and hope for the best, but if they're at the wrong stage for the time of year (by about 6months), then they're probably not going to work anyway - it'll be the wrong temperature while they're growing - because they start off when it's warm and then flower when it's been cold. yours will be growing when it's been cold and flowering when it's boiling.  i shouldn't imagine that they'll be able to self-regulate and flower at the right time, would they??