Purple sprouting broccoli grows long and skiny....help!!

Hi, I am new to this forum and would love some help please. last year I planted my first PSB and it has been growing very well, however, although it tastes good the stalks only grow long and skinny and not the lush thick stalks I have seen in the pictures of other veg growers.....what am i doing wrong? can someone advise please as I would love to do better next time, thanks.

I will endeavour to feed them more regularly next time and fingers crossed for a better crop.  As for the soft and fluffy ground, if only, its more like hard concrete here in the south east, we haven't had meaningful rain for weeks, just a good job we are not on a water meter!!

Thanks for taking time to reply 

maybe someone could explain to me the difference between early and late?
They both crop at the same time.....
I'm trying a summer flowering one (bred so it doesn't need winter cold to stimulate flower growth)
Anyone tried it?

maybe someone could explain to me the difference between early and late?
They both crop at the same time.....
I'm trying a summer flowering one (bred so it doesn't need winter cold to stimulate flower growth)
Anyone tried it?

                                                                     

I think the difference between early and late is only going to be two or three weeks.

I first grew summer purple two years ago in a field and had a fantastic crop. It`s always on my must grow list now.
This year I`m growing summer purple, Extra Early Rudolf and the green broccoli Beaumont F1. A few seeds of all three were sown in modules in February and the plants are now about a foot tall on the plot with the first spears on the summer purple just visible. Another couple of weeks and they`ll be on the plate!                                                     

Quote from: viettaclark on May 11, 2011, 22:48

maybe someone could explain to me the difference between early and late?
They both crop at the same time.....
I'm trying a summer flowering one (bred so it doesn't need winter cold to stimulate flower growth)
Anyone tried it?

                                                                     

I think the difference between early and late is only going to be two or three weeks.
                                                   

Mine were months apart with the summer ones harvested and cleared from the plot by the end of September but the winter variety didn't start cropping until the end of March (Later this year after a harsh winter!)

I think maybe Vietta was refering to early and late winter varieties, that`s what I was replying to anyway.

Ops... sorry. 

Easily confused...  It's my age. 

                                             
                                                   

Mine were months apart with the summer ones harvested and cleared from the plot by the end of September but the winter variety didn't start cropping until the end of March (Later this year after a harsh winter!)

                                                                                                   

That`s why I`m growing Extra Early Rudolf this year to prolong the season. Instructions on the packet say, sow March to June, harvest September to March, obviously dependant on the weather.

Another dozen seeds sown this morning.



Sorry, quote needs editing.

Consider it edited