Broccoli Advice Sought

mumofstig thanks for your helpful link, so what I have is more correctly termed Purple Sprouting Calabrese, as it produces in the same year as planting, unlike Broccoli, which I now haved learned produces after a winter.

Gratfeul appreciation for all the kind advice and information

They were definitely hedging their bets on my seed packet. The name is Broccoli Calabrese Green Sprouting   

The central shoots on them are only getting to about 3" across before they start to spread and threaten to flower, so I have to pick them. And I've been snipping those off for 2 or 3 weeks now and no sign of any side shoots so far. Can somebody recommend a good variety I can try for next year that will give me a nice big fat central head, like I buy in the supermarket? Or can calabrese be grown over winter?

I blame the supermarkets for that -- veg should have it's proper names and then we'd all know what was what  :blink: