Purple Sprouting Brocolli

[vitruvius8]

Why is my PSB sprouting??? it was planted out in April but quite a few are sprouting purple sprouting!!! :P

[vitruvius8]

[Pescador]

I had exactly the same problerm last year, and so did many people near to me. We weren't all growing the same variety, so it wasn't that.
The weather patten has been different this year, so it's not that!

It must be down to global warming/cooling, Icelandic volcanos, El Ninho, or the weakness of the Euro!

So far this year I haven't had the same problem

[tim]

You have an early variety?

[zigzig]

Yes it often starts to sprout at this time.

Not at all unusual.

Keep the plants well watered. The least bit of drought will make these brassicas fear that they will die and force them into reproduction.

Just use the sprouts and hope. Once the yellow flowers appear then you need to dig up the plant. It has gone over.

[tim]

Early - I meant like Summer Purple which comes in from late June to October.

[Barkie]

Same here I planted my EPSB in April and I'm watching the heads and thinking I'll be eating some soon.

[Pescador]

No, Tim, it was Late Purple Sprouting that I grew last year, and as I said other growewrs with other varieties had a similar problems.

[tim]

Point taken!

My problem has been my PSB & Romanesco going to seed at about a foot high.

[Pescador]

Half of my PSB and Brussels were planted on the site of last years runner beans site, and they are definitely benefiting from that extra nitrogen. They all had a base dressing of Growmore, but the ones in the old bean patch are still bigger. I gave them all a good soaking after planting and another a month later, making sure the water had gone down a good 8 inches.
I think last year I didn't feed enough, and maybe didn't give them that 2nd real soaking to get the roots right down.
Only time will tell

[Robert_Brenchley]

This is where mulching comes in useful. Under a couple of inches of grass cuttings, the soil is damp! Mulch around them and you shouldn't get them bolting again.