broccoli/calabrese which one??

[lynda66]

i grew broccoli this year and was mightily peeved that each plant didn't provide enough sprouts for one person, so basically it was a complete waste of space ...... so this year i figured i'd try calabrese instead,

so what variety is easy to grow ......ie plant and ignore ....... and will provide large heads, and tastes yummy??

i'm gonna try romanesco, but would like some proper green stuff too


thanks

[tootles]

I grew Arcadia last year it is an F1 but it is still producing floretty sideshoots. Will definately grow that one again, I have saved some seed too - will see what it comes up with!

[kitchengardner]

i grew broccoli this year and was mightily peeved that each plant didn't provide enough sprouts for one person, so basically it was a complete waste of space ...... so this year i figured i'd try calabrese instead,

so what variety is easy to grow ......ie plant and ignore ....... and will provide large heads, and tastes yummy??

i'm gonna try romanesco, but would like some proper green stuff too


thanks

I grew Marathon last year, highly successful with all twelve plants yielding a large central head (fed a family of three no problems) and then a further 4-6 weeks later several small sideshoots (2 plants was enough for a family meal)

Regards

Kitchen Gardener

[kate&rob]

we grew arcadia and parthenon, both were excellent. just made the mistake of planting loads of plants all at the same time, got sick and tired of the sight and smell of broccolli when freezing it. great tasting though.

[Nicos]

Green stuff??...try curly Kale...mine love the left overs..and they go on for ever...

[Two_Sheds]

My summer calabrese was rubbish.

Hopefully my winter PSB will be better ... it's getting little fat heads right now.

[lynda66]

Green stuff??...try curly Kale...mine love the left overs..and they go on for ever...

i meant green as in broccoli tasting lol ..... i did grow some kale, didn't know what it was and got given some seeds ..... tastes like manky cabbage, rabbit likes it though

shall have a look and see if i can get a few of the different types mentioned thanks

i have about 40 plants still, that i was hoping might sprout a bit more, but nothing, rabbit likes the leaves as well though ...... so i guess not a complete waste ..... but i wasn't planning on growing veg just for the pets lol.

[plantsbypost.com]

We rate Marathon and Ironman as the best 2 for larger heads.

Another one to try is Tendergreen for smaller spears.

Regards

Neil

[nemo]

if you want a quick crop of purple sprouting broccoli.sow Bordeaux F! in spring and you harvest loads of side shoots once you harvest the main head from june on the same year

[Snadger]

My summer calabrese was rubbish.

Hopefully my winter PSB will be better ... it's getting little fat heads right now.

My plants are looking good and strong .........Rudolph PSB..........must go and have a better look at them now you mention it!

[Snadger]

....................................... but i wasn't planning on growing veg just for the pets lol.

I am................

[lynda66]

I am................

well i still have some kale, black cabbage and some of this years broccoli seeds that i'll grow for them if i can find space, but the plan was to eat the eatable bits and give them the rest, not grow 40 plants for them and have 4 meals myself ...... but with the broccoli plants i grew this year, they have had most of the miniscule side heads too, as each head only had about 4 buds on it ...... they have had some carrot leaves today, cos i pulled up the last of last years early carrots this afternoon