Nine Star perennial broccoli/cauliflower

[veggiechicken]

I grew these little fellas from seed last year

Can anyone tell me how big the heads grow? I've read "tennis ball size" but I don't think mine will grow that big. Just wondering when to cut some heads - presumably the central one is chopped first?

[Jay-ell]

Not sure as I don't play tennis
the big one looks ready to cut now.

Really just replying so I get the update emails as i have one young plant to try (and possibly take cuttings next year). I've usually grown annual cauliflowers for their vitamin packed leaves (at least that's what I've told my family when I force them to eat them) - as I've rarely got a decent head on mine (then I blink and they go to seed)


Alys Fowler: the cauli that keeps on giving | Life and style | The Guardian

[veggiechicken]

I've not thought of taking cuttings from them Must have a look tomorrow, see if there's anything suitable.
I have 3 plants and I think you'd need more than one to pick enough for a meal. Early days yet.

[vixylix]

Jay-ell - you can subscribe to the thread without replying?!

[Twinsane]

Looking for seeds

VC, can you tell me where you got your seeds from? I had a pack sitting in my seed box for years and decided to have a clear out and gave them away. I've since tried to find them and am unable to. I asked the recipient of my seeds if they had any left and they chucked them out .

[lottie dolly]

look on line,lots of places seem to have them,type in the name and choose i has got plants fro the end of september,buy 5 or more for 1.30 each

[Guest]

I think although places list them there is still availability issues. Victoriana don't seem to have the seeds listed anymore. The plants are here https://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/..._N_Come_Again/

[Twinsane]

I've looked online for seeds and visited local seed suppliers in case they had any but no one seems to stock them. Looks like I'll be buying plants. Thanks for the link Norfolkgrey.

[veggiechicken]

Spotted these today Second year of cropping. There are 2 plants, about 4' tall.

The main head


Side shoots



I snapped off one side shoot by mistake - so its become a cutting (of course it was deliberate!)

Anyone else growing these?

[Jay-ell]

I had a nice side dish of cauliflower cheese on Sunday from my single plant. You said last year that you were going to look for cutting material - did you take any? If so I guess they didn't make it as you only have 2 plants.

[veggiechicken]

I forgot to take cuttings

[Snadger]

I grew them one year and found the stems were very brittle and snapped off quite easily
Do you have them covered VC, or do the pigeons leave them alone. I don't seem to recall i had to cover mine, even though every thing else gets turned into lace curtains by the flying rats.
They used to stand on top of my walking stick kale and peck the middle out of them!.

Enjoy your cauliflower cheese!

[veggiechicken]

They're in the netted GH, Snadge, so safe from pigeons

[Guest]

I sowed the last of my seeds a while ago and I have one seed that has been struggling to pop for ages so don't hold a lot of hope

[veggiechicken]

Harvested the big 'ed today and the small 'ed from another plant



They're both supposed to be Nine star and I thought the big'ed was supposed to be the size of a tennis ball Its more like a football