broccoli,autumn calabrese

[lottie dolly]

i have some of the above ready for planting out,the packet tells everything barr how high they grow,i have done a search and not sure weather it's the 2 ft,or 3/4ft high,i need to know so i can get the flying rat nets high enough,i am hoping the weather is suitable tomorrow,best layed plans and all that,
thankyou very much

[wellie]

okay.... Summer Broccoli is generally known as Calabrese, and you can plant it about 9inches to a foot apart and get a perfectly edible crop within 12-16 weeks. I do, and I'm about to pick my first crop tomorrow.

Completely different is the Purple Sprouting Broccoli, which (depending on the variety you choose to grow) can mature anytime between Autumn and Late Spring.
And this variety grows way taller than the Calabrese, which I don't net because it crops nice and quick, before pests become a real problem.

Purple Sprouting will grow 3-4ft, and yes... well worth netting against cabbage white butterflies and pigeons.

Lots of luck with your growing.....X

[lottie dolly]

hi wellie,thank you for reply,i also have purple sprouting,matures next year,and have a cage sorted for it,no problem,its the green headed one i don't know how high it will grow to,it apparently sends out side shoots after the top head has been cut,and says to plant it 18in,in both directions,it's just how high will it grow,that is the only thing missing of the instructions on the back of the packet,am beggining to think,if it only 18in apart maybe it is not so tall,just want the net to be higher so the darn things with feather and wings cannot sit on the top and feed,

[wellie]

me thinks 18 inches apart is spelling the Purple Sprouting variety, and that will certainly grow 3-4ft high, so set the nets that high? Your main problem will be with Cabbage White Butterflies from now to the end of Autumn, and your main focus will be to keep them off of the foliage or they'll lay their eggs there.

If you have these planted at home you'll be able to pick off and destroy the caterpillars regularly, so no problems. If your allotment is far from home, you'll need to keep an eye on it all and act accordingly.

[wellie]

me thinks 18 inches apart is spelling the Purple Sprouting variety, and that will certainly grow 3-4ft high, so set the nets that high? Your main problem will be with Cabbage White Butterflies from now to the end of Autumn, and your main focus will be to keep them off of the foliage or they'll lay their eggs there.

If you have these planted at home you'll be able to pick off and destroy the caterpillars regularly, so no problems. If your allotment is far from home, you'll need to keep an eye on it all and act accordingly.

[lottie dolly]

i have everything sorted,all i need to know is,how high can i expect the green headed broccoli to grow,is it tall like the purple sprouting or small like a cabbage and cauli,please has anyone got an answer.

[heebiejeebie]

I'm growing calabrese for the first time this year too. I'm not expecting it to get any taller than 2ft.

[gojiberry]

Should not be more than 2ft and more likely 18inches. I have ironman broccoli growing at the moment and it is only just over 1ft high and Im not expecting it to get much higher.

Ian

[Two_Sheds]

I built my cabbage nets y'day (they're tents really). Four foot high, to stand well above the plants and to allow me in to do weeding.

[Demeter]

it apparently sends out side shoots after the top head has been cut,and says to plant it 18in,in both directions,it's just how high will it grow,

The side shoots thing made me wonder if it is (or is like) Crown & Sceptres which I am growing. I don't know how tall it will grow either, but the T&M blurb suggests 8" apart and 18" between rows which suggests that this is not going to be a tall plant.

Broccoli : Crown and Sceptres

At the end of the day, unless you're short of netting etc, better to be safe than sorry!

[lottie dolly]

thank you all very much for your replies,i have planted them this afternoon,they are in a high enough cage along with the sprouts,so it's just wait and see,

[Snadger]

My calabrese last year grew to about 18" and was lost in the amount of room I gave it. It will get 12" between rows and plants this year!

[lottie dolly]

thank you very much snadger,i have put them in about 16",guess work,but not to worry ,i am not moving them,at least i will know for next year