[Rangerkris]

Grrrrrrrr most of our beoccoli has bolted for some reason is it to late to set more seed off.

[mumofstig]

My Calabrese broccoli says to sow may and june.......so i don't see why not

[Rangerkris]

Cool i will check with what i have in the cupboard and see, and get onto it tomorrow.

[DD.]

That's shot very quickly, I've yet to plant mine out.

When did you sow them and under what conditions?

[Rangerkris]

We sowed the broccoli raab 60day that came with grown your own last month.  it was planted into to ground last saturday.  Some had flowers when we went to te plot today. 

[DD.]

What I meant was, where did you germinate it  - i.e. greenhouse, cold frame outside etc., & where did you grow it on?

[Rangerkris]

 ::)Its been in the palstic greehouse in the garden then moved to the real green house at the plot then into the ground.

[DD.]

And therein lies your problem.

Brassicas are very hardy and do not need such warmth, this will cause them to put on rapid growth & expire before their time.

[Rangerkris]

Thanks DD thats handy to know i should have guess that by the problems i had earlier in the season with cauli seedlings.  So do i start them off and move outside under cover of netting would this do the trick.

[DrBill]

I sowed the same free broccoli seeds and mine have also bolted. Mine however were sown outside and transplanted a couple of weeks ago - so no excessive warmth, but they still bolted. Maybe not a good variety for this time of year?

[mumofstig]

Is the wrong time of year according Real Seeds
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/broccoli.html (look half way down page)

[gillie]

Did you sow them in modules of some kind?  I have read that these brassicas resent root disturbance.

Cheers,

Gillie

[Rangerkris]

I did my in modules, i might try some driect in the ground can i eat the leaves of the broccoli plant or should i just pull them up and add to the compost bin.

[lauren]

Same with me.  I sowed in 3 inch pot outside, to then plant out when I get a bit of space back and mine have also all bolted 

[SnooziSuzi]

I started mine in trays outside (no coldframe / greenhouse or special attention), pricked them out individually into pots when they had 2 true leaves and planted them out when they were about 3" high and only one is bolting out of 12.

I read somewhere that lack of water can stress the plants and make them think they are going to die, so they bolt in order to set seeds for the next generation.   But I might be wrong!