Wild broccoli?

[Jessiebean]

Wild broccoli. We have been living here for going on two years and the weeds around the garden are a source of fascination for me. I have what would appear to be a primitive broccoli growing, small heads, bristly brassica leaves.. can I eat this?

100_4085.jpg (61.83 KiB) Viewed 4014 times

[happyigloo]

Didn't think there is such as thing as wild brocoli. I thought it was man made - ie bred from a variety of kale.

Take a look here - maybe that's what you got: http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentof ... -broccoli/

[Jessiebean]

I know that cultivated brocolli was bred especially but I was wondering if this could be similar to brocolli raab or something as it is defintely a sprouted head looking thing on a brassica plant...

[Treelover]

the thing about brassicas is that they hybridise very readily since the original species were started to be bred by the Romans so actually they're all rather closely related. if it looks like broccoli and smells like broccoli, treat it like broccoli but probably needing slightly longer cooking time.

[becks77]

Looks very like Fat hen to me, but I'm no expert try here http://www.gardenzone.info/herbs/fathen.php
Bx

[contadina]

Looks like cima di rapa to me. We pretty much live off the stuff all winter. It's got a slightly mustardy flavour and goes really well with pasta, you can add it to soups or eat covered with olive oil.

[Slippery Jack]

I'm pretty sure it's a member of the Goosefoot family, which includes Fat Hen.