Texel Greens

[cevenol jardin]

I am growing texel greens for the first time this year. All i know about it is that it is a fast growing brassica, so a good catch crop cropping in 7 weeks and used like spinach.
I am planning to sow it in next couple of days.
Has anyone grown it before ? any recommendations, tips.

[alan refail]

Yes, another of the things I have tried and don't grow any more. All I will say is that it's OK. I don't think I've ever cooked it - grown it for cutting young in salads, and that's where its speed comes in useful. Give it a try - all brassicas are useful in one way or another.

Though for speed of crop and a better taste I prefer Cime di Rapa (other names include Rapini, Broccoli Rabe (or Raab), Broccoletti, Broccoli di Rape, Cime di Rapa or Grelos). There are some good pictures on

http://www.italianseedcompany.co.uk/bra ... 20rapa.htm

Buon appetito

Alan

[cevenol jardin]

Thanks Alan
I'll give the texel greens a go (not many seeds in the packet anyway) but does not sound too exciting.

Yep the broccoletto cima di rapa is a fav of mine too. We just finished the polytunnel crop. Maybe i should sow some more of that as well. I've got some 90 day and 40day seeds.

You must have some great stuff going on in your garden - can i see a picture anywhere.

Thanks for the Italian seeds link - looks interesting - which reminds me Romanesco i thought was classed as a brocoli but i see it often refered to as either Brocoli or Cauliflower do you know which it is?

I've got the last 3 heads to harvest this month and it is really yummy stuff. They seemed to have reached epic proportions this year plants over 4 foot and the largest head 23cm accross.

[dewwex]

question? when did you sow your Romanesco? Was it outside or in a poly tunnel?

[cevenol jardin]

Not sown it yet. I sow it in a seed bed protected by a cold frame but not covered. Usually in April or May if i am behind and set out in its final position May-July (depending on getting a favourable window) for us that means cloudy and a bit of rain. It seems to be pretty tough - one year we had a severe winter (down to -10c)but the clever plant threw up its heads in September. Otherwsie in a mild winter like this one (worst we got was minus 3c) i harvested the last one yesturday.

If you want to see my full seed list for this year i just posted it on my site today and there's a picture of one of this years romanesco http://www.masdudiable.com/fluxit/mdd.n ... t-2007.htm

[Tigger]

Crikey - I thought I was a bit of a seed maniac!!! I feel rather restrained now. Mind you - I can beat you on a few. Good job there are lots of colleagues at work who want fruit and veg but don't have any garden.

I've just sown some Romanesco today for the first time. I'm not that convinced by it's flavour but it looks lovely on the plate and I can feed any spares to my (new) chickens and my friend's pigs.

As for Cime di Rapa - that's a favourite of mine but I'm also growing it this year as a leaf 'salad', as per man on Carol Klein's programme. I've got a large module tray (400 sections) sown with a range of seeds as an experiment.

[dewwex]

A query to cevenol jardin:

my understanding is that you sow the same time as you have said. And that plants are ready to harvest from september. you say you have just harvested your last head recently. Am i right in thinking that you are saying that romanesco will keep in the field throughout the winter without going to flower at some stage? wow

[cevenol jardin]

I've gone back through my note book to see exactly when i sowed transplanted and harvested. I can only go back three years. There is a window from Sept-March when the romaneso sets its curds. But i should have been clearer that not necessarily for all of that time. It seems to depend on the weather a lot. Last 3 years went like this

2004 S May 21 TP July H Sept-Dec
2005 S May 18 TP June-July H Jan-Feb
2006 S April 4 TP June 12 H Dec-March

2004 severe cold to -10 curds started in sept
2005 summer too hot & dry so i staggered setting out to ensuire a crop. Some got potted up in large pots June then transplanted when i got favourable weather.
2006 warm mild winter 1 cold week in Nov down to -3 then warm until this week in March when we have have had another cold week.

Hope that makes it clearer. DW

[cevenol jardin]

Tigger
yep maniac is the word for me on the seed front, my neighbours, who we share this mountain with, used to be market gardeners and find our veg gardens a constant source of amusement. The volume and strange varieties in particular. It works out pretty well they teach me techniques, i experiment and they pop over to take a look and sample the produce then they put in their orders for seedling plants of the stuff they liked for next year.

Its good to try new stuff - speaking of which go on tempt me you said you can beat me on a few - your talking to an adict here ----you can't taunt me like that and then not say what - what are they????

[dewwex]

In reply to cevenol jardin:

Its interesting that the later sowing time cobined with colder weather seems to be inducing curd formation earlier. from your results it looks this way. To alot of people this would be turning our assumptions of plant growth on its head!
though i was actually wondering this myself regarding april sowings versis may sowings of autumn brassicas.

maybe there is some other reason why, but certainly makes me wonder!

[dewwex]

it looks to me like romanesco as some form of venerlisation period a bit like, but not the same as, traditional 'purple sprouting broccoli'

[Tigger]

I'll copy out my list CJ and post it.