Purple Sprouting Broccoli Help Please

[craftymarie]

I was lucky that 1 of these plants managed to survive after I had an absolute disaster with the rest last year.

Only problem, when should I start eating it and how? Does it regrow if I cut bits off or not???

Love broccoli but never eaten this before so not sure what I'm looking for! Thanks for any advice.

[Scoot]

You want the whole spears ( the purple flowers and the stems they're on). You may get some more if you pick them all now.

[craftymarie]

Thank you. I shall start cutting them off to eat then

Looking forward to trying it out.

[Zelenina]

Eat it now! If you leave it much longer all those tasty purple sprouty bits will burst open into flowers.

You can see there's a main head at the top with sprouts radiating out from it. Cut that all off. And lower down there are purple topped side shoots poking out. Cut them all off too, including any tender parts of stem. Then cook them whatever way you like. Steaming and eating with melted butter is good, or stir frying.

It should carry on producing more sprouts for a while if you keep harvesting them.

[Penellype]

Cut the more open heads first and leave the tighter ones for later. If you cut the stems leaving a couple of the smaller buds near the main stalk, they will grow a bit and give you more broccoli. The heads get smaller but I have had broccoli through to June by doing this.

[johnjohn]

Just jumping on the band wagon here but if it's purple and sprouting then it's good to go!

But I think you know that now....

[craftymarie]

Thank you for all the advice. I am looking forward to steaming some tomorrow- adding butter sounds good!

[vixylix]

Looking fab Marie! Mine kept going and going last year until finally the whole lot burst in to flower - the the bees went mad for them. Great veg!

[Jungle Jane]

It nice your plants standing up,mine are running away from the bed but my dahlias (& four nice leeks) pushed them out a bit,I crammed a lot of plants in there. Eat the small leaves too,I had some early purple sprouting broccoli that flowered straight after producing heads but I've also got three summer purple broccoli plants that have been harvested a bit. Mine didn't taste of anything at all,I didn't add salt or anything to see what it tasted like & the answer is it tastes of nothing! I hope yours tastes of something,I'm adding garlic to the next lot,this is what they look like at the moment-

[Snadger]

The tastiest of all the brassicas methinks. Born out by the price of it in the shops!

[Bren In Pots]

I was lucky that 1 of these plants managed to survive after I had an absolute disaster with the rest last year.

Only problem, when should I start eating it and how? Does it regrow if I cut bits off or not???

Love broccoli but never eaten this before so not sure what I'm looking for! Thanks for any advice.

It does look a nice healthy plant Marie

[Mr Bones]

That looks great CM. If you have to pick it more than a couple of hours before your meal time it's worth sticking in a jug of water to keep it firm.

[craftymarie]

Thank you I was pleased with my 1 plant ha ha! I will try and get some more to grow next year!

We had this for dinner, steamed lightly and added butter, was good but I admit not really that much flavour. However daughter liked it better than regular broccoli which was a win because she ate it without complaint!

I also like that it is ready now while there is not much else ready to eat. So a good choice to grow.

@Jungle Jane - odd that they are leaning that way. Must admit the stalk on mine is bent over maybe because of the weight but it is standing upright because there is a fence behind. Not sure if they are meant to be staked?

Also I moved mine when it was quite large from a raised bed which I wanted for kale into the flower border and thought I'd killed it at first. So it put up with quite a bit of stress from me.

[Snoop Puss]

I stake mine, just like I stake sprouts.