Purple Sprouting Broccoli Crisis!

[Lorraine70]

About four weeks ago I planted out three 'Early Purple Sprouting' plants, which I grew from seed back in March/April. All three have been growing fantastically well, but one of them has now started to produce spears in abundance! This variety is normally harvested from February, so I'm at a loss as to what has happened. Has anybody else experienced this, and if so, will the plant still produce spears next year or should I be giving it up as a lost cause and composting it?

[OllieMartin]

Harvest 'em!

What's the worst that could happen? I harvested a couple of spears off mine the other day, not sure if that's the best thing to do, but it's surely better than letting them go to flower.

[Patchninja]

Perhaps it's a summer variety! There are loads - you can crop all year.

[w33blegurl]

This happened to mine last year so I just ate the spears! Rather nice they were too. Its a good job I did as they all collpased under the snow we had in winter :S

[rustylady]

As has been said already - cut them and enjoy them. I certainly wouldn't compost the plant until it's finished producing spears.

[jacob marley]

The same happened to mine so a quick firkel in seed box and i have sowed some more plenty of time for them to grow.jacob

[Lorraine70]

Thanks for your replies guys! I checked on the seed packet, and they are definitely the variety to harvest in February. Anyway, I'm going to enjoy the spears now and hopefully the other two I planted out won't go the same way, as I really look forward to harvesting the spears in the dead of winter when nothing much else is growing in the garden!

[Two_Sheds]

I guess you were just too early sowing them (despite what the packet said).

Mine were only planted out last week... they're about 8" high