[matilda333]

Hello all,

I am debating what to do with my broccoli crop...should it stay or should it go!!

I planted some seedlings in oct 2010, which grew very well although didnt produce many broccoli sprouts. As we were heading out of the growing season I wasnt too worried about using the space for other veg, so left the plants in the ground all over the winter weather.
Now were heading to warmer weather the plants have had a second sprout and are starting to produce a few (small!) borccoli heads... they also had lots of new leaf growth...untill rabbits got the better of them 

As this is the first time I've grown this veg I'm unsure if they will reproduce again, or shall I just cut my losses and let the ground have  'rest' before the growing season kicks off again?...

Any advice would be much appreciated, many thanks 

[LivvyW]

Is it Purple sprouting brocolli? My plants were planted out in May last year and are currently at the 'few small sprouts' and lots of new leafy growth stage.

Take out the central sprout and the side shoots should start to explode with sprouts.

I definitly wouldn't take them out now. If you can leave them for the next couple of months you may well be very pleasantly surprised.

[matilda333]

Thanks for this Livvy...

not purple sprouting, just regular green! (i cant think of the appropriate name)... Will take out the central sprouts and see how I get on, fingers crossed!

[Yabba]

Mines still growing from last summer, I'm just going to leave it in until I need the space for my runners in June

¥

[Gandan57]

I think any winter brassicas left in the ground will start to sprout seed heads and these are delicious.

I haven`t been able to grow cabbages for several years but I used to make a cross cut when I cut the cabbage so it would send up green shoots for a second crop.

[Yabba]

Mine aren't winter ones, they're summer quick heading calabrese ... they just survived all the way through winter and have carried on throwing off stems

¥

[matilda333]

Mines still growing from last summer, I'm just going to leave it in until I need the space for my runners in June

¥

I think I'll follow your lead and hang onto them as long as I can then!! I must admit im terrible for getting rid of things if theyre still alive... thinning out seedlings is traumatic!!

[LivvyW]

Matilda,

I'm the same, i'll hang on to the most sorry looking plant hoping for recovery. The only time i've been successful is on my sprouting broccoli.  Sad, sad old plants that suddenly burst into life. I give the old yellowing leaves (from last autumn)a little tug and they usually come away
leaving more room for the new growth.  Later, i'm often amazed at the crop from a plant that i was going to dig up and throw away.

Of course, if it really sprouted last autumn, and produced yellow flowers, then it has probably done  all its going to do. Have a squeeze at the stem. Some of mine that sprouted last autumn (too early) had soft stems and i dug them up.

Hope you are lucky.

[matilda333]

Matilda,

I'm the same, i'll hang on to the most sorry looking plant hoping for recovery. The only time i've been successful is on my sprouting broccoli.  Sad, sad old plants that suddenly burst into life. I give the old yellowing leaves (from last autumn)a little tug and they usually come away
leaving more room for the new growth.  Later, i'm often amazed at the crop from a plant that i was going to dig up and throw away.

Of course, if it really sprouted last autumn, and produced yellow flowers, then it has probably done  all its going to do. Have a squeeze at the stem. Some of mine that sprouted last autumn (too early) had soft stems and i dug them up.

Hope you are lucky.

thanks for the tips Livvy, ill keep my fingers crossed for some sunny weather tomorrow so i can get out in the garden, give 'em a good old squeeze and get back to you!