Purple Sprouting Broccoli

[Odsox]

It's been a glorious day today, wall to wall sunshine, the birds are singing, the daffodils are out, crocuses are out, celandines are out, my early blueberry is in full bloom, but best of all will be eating the first picking of PSB for dinner tonight.

Then a big black cloud appeared, the sun went in and the temperature plummeted, just to stop me being smug and reminding me that winter is still in the neighbourhood.

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[tosca]

Oooo I'm jealous, my favourite veg and no garden at the moment as between homes.

Overpriced supermarket stuff is just awful in comparison. Will have to wait till next year.

Enjoy!

[diggernotdreamer]

Ah Tony, you must live in a different Ireland to me, I think I will have to move south. We have wall to wall rain, no daffs yet or crocuses, my psb is a bit behind yours but did nip off a few thick bits today to eat with what's left of the sprouts, yours looks great though

I bought some PSB in a greengrocers last time I visited my daugher in Norfolk, I thought it looked a funny colour, when it was cooked the water was brilliant green, looked like it had been dyed, I then read they do add dyes to the water unbelievable.

[Broad Bean]

What variety is that? Mine is the bog standard stuff and is probably a couple of months off being ready yet!

[gregorach]

Crocuses and daffodils? I guess you must live in the sub-tropical bit of Ireland... It's still very definitely winter here. We might see snowdrops by the end of the month, if we're lucky. Or we might just see snow...

[Odsox]

Ah Tony, you must live in a different Ireland to me, I think I will have to move south. We have wall to wall rain, no daffs yet or crocuses,

Oh poor you, no daffs ?
Mine have been out since mid January.
There you go, maybe this will brighten up your day.

Broadbean, my PSB is also bog standard Early Purple.

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[oldjerry]

I'm pretty sure I can see a shadow that is, by chance , heat lamp shaped.....??

[Green Aura]

dnd, please don't encourage him. He'll be showing you his tomatoes next!

[diggernotdreamer]

Hahaha, as long as he doesn't show us his plums we'll be fine

[Odsox]

dnd, please don't encourage him. He'll be showing you his tomatoes next!

Nah, I've stopped doing that.
44 months continuous, it's become just too too mundane.

[Green Aura]

[Keaniebean]

Beautiful Odsox, I've only just had snowdrops this week and that's in London where we don't get any 'weather'.

[DavidP]

We love purple sprouting Broccoli! Unfortunately for the past 6 years here in France we have had nearly zero success in growing it. When we lived back in the UK we never had a problem. Anyone got any ideas ? Miss that veggie so much......

[oldjerry]

Hello,
Seems a pity not to be able to grow it.You'll have to be a bit more specific as to your failures,germination?..cultivation?.. etc,but here's a couple of ideas that might stir a thought or too;
They are gross feeders,so liquid feed throughout the summer,
Net them early,I grow them in a square to make this easier.(alternatively eliminate every pigeon within 10 sq. miles)
Most of all ,they tend to run to seed in warm summers(which maybe what's changed since you left UK),to get round this,sow a bit later(May?),get a variety that is less prone to do this,or get someone in UK to grow you some then send out the transplants in late summer,(probably illegal,but that just makes it more fun).

Hope that Helps!

[DavidP]

Thanks for the reply Jerry. The warm summers hence running to seed sounds like could be the cause so will try and find a better variety and plant later. Has to be said though I do warm to the idea of smuggling purple sprouting transplants into the country :-) Iv'e heard of drug runners, gun runners but never veggie runners!