[erainn]

I have some healthy looking broccoli seedlings potted and in my garden. They are about 2 inches at present and I'm wondering if they are ready to be introduced to the soil in my allotment. Would it be prudent to wait a while, or will the generally warmer south coast climate allow planting now? If so, what's the advised spacing between broccoli? Also, I guess some protective netting wouldd be helpful?

Any thoughts and help most appreciated.

[whippersnapper]

Hi erainn

I'm assuming that you are growing a large headed calabrese variety? What variety is it exactly?

I've grown calabrese for previous 3 years on my plot but not bothered this year. The problems I found were (a) it ran to seed far to readily, leaving me with a very small edible crop (b) the heads where not large or tightly packed like you'd find with a supermarket type (c) require a fair bit of space and netting.

Anyhows, some of my problems may be down to the variety I chose ('Green Heading Calabrese' from realseeds) or my location etc. So good luck!

I would encourage you to (a) start hardenning off plants, if not already (b) firm down the soil in your bed quite substantially i.e. heel over (c) plant with good spacing between plants of 18 inches or so, they get quite big (c) net them now to keep out white cabbage fly

 

[erainn]

Hi,

Thanks for your help on that. Mine is the Purple Sprouting Broccoli, and have been outside in pots for past week, so hopefully hardened off now.