It's April, so it must be PURPLE SPROUTING BROCCOLI...

Submitted by ange dews on Tue, 13/04/2010 - 2:47pm

We promised to bring you a calendar of 'Seasonal and Regional Produce' and, as we're now well into April, it should be noted that Purple Sprouting Broccoli is here.

It's purple when raw and green when cooked, but more tender than the big heads of regular green broccoli (calabrese). It's a bit of an investment for any gardener: you might be sowing seeds mid-spring, protecting from slugs and snails through our wet summers, knocking snow off in December and chasing away the pigeons when there's little else for them to eat, finally it's ready (now-ish), standing at three feet tall and taking up space in the plot that you want for new sowings! But it's worth it... no really it is.

My 'Big Broccoli book' (by Georgina Downard) boasts 86 pages of delicious things you can do with either green or purple broccoli, like 'broccoli and crab souffle' and 'broccoli pilaf with chickpeas and tomatoes' - it shall be on loan to the GVG for the next month!

 

Coming soon.... We have had our first glimpses of (Spanish) asparagus... next month should bring a regular supply of UK-grown spears, hopefully some from within just a few miles of us.

 

 

Purple Sprouting Broccoli at Wellhouse   

    

  

 

 

         Asparagus... it's coming! 

Comments

Broccoli

Submitted by pip on Thu, 15/04/2010 - 9:38pm.

Ange, your growing abilities are known far and wide.

I'm impressed at your broccolli. That you grew from seed ?

I admired your curly kale when I was in your garden last year, I must remember to ask you for some tips on growing Bigggggg plants of kale and also broccolli. Please remind me.

Brassicas

Submitted by ange dews on Sat, 17/04/2010 - 9:04pm.

Hey Pip, Thanks! Our brassicas (sprouts, cabbages, broccoli and kale, all from seed) for next year are now in pots in the big (cold) greenhouse, the seedlings are about 3 inches tall. They can go out as soon as the bed is ready. I started the seeds early but they didn't need heat for germination. A secret might be good, well-rotted horse muck dug into the bed with a bit of lime. Or just luck? I thought they'd be decimated in the hard winter but they've bounced back fine. Good luck with yours, I think your hens love this stuff!

Everything looks fantastic, i

Submitted by Carol on Tue, 13/04/2010 - 7:48pm.

Everything looks fantastic, i carn't wait to taste it.