Broccoli - Questions and Issues

Hello,

I have a few questions concerning broccoli that are not covered in 'the book'.

First, my broccoli is flowering, does this mean it has bolted and will not produce in late winter/early spring, should I cut these flowers off?

Second, I have caterpillars eating the leaves, there are two kinds, short green ones and a longer black and yellow one, what am I able to do to eliminate or control them? I have tried mild soapy water but it has not appeared to do anything as they hang about the underside of the leaves.

If you require any photos or other info I can provide. Any help will be appreciated, thank you.

Craig

The caterpillars are from small and large cabbage white butterflies.................if you don't net it you don't get it, is very true. Most people cover all brassicas with netting to stop the catterpillars and the birds.

Pick the caterpillars and squash any eggs on the undersides of the leaves. Or you can spray with Provado Ultimate bug spray (the vegetable one) http://www.bayergarden.co.uk/en/data/Products/u/Provado-Ultimate-Fruit-,-a-,-Vegetable-Bug-Killer-Ready-to-Use.aspx

Yes, if it's flowering then it is bolting 

Am I able to save the broccoli in any way?

I was just about to post the same question about bolting . . . Three of mine have, one day fine two days later yellow flowers . .  So disappointing, how would I know that its about to bolt . . . Is their any signs. Not grown it before. Have 3 more plants and 5 psb so advice please  :blink: