Maybe Johnboy can help with this one. I have success with Claret Purple Sprouting Broccoli (and Late White), but haven't found a satisfactory earlier variety. Claret, Rudolph, Garnet, Red Arrow and White Eye have all been disappointing. They either start too early and then get clobbered by any bad weather going, or just don't perform.
Any suggestions? Is it a matter of timing regarding when to sow/plant or just bad luck - this is over 7 years.
Thanks
'early' Sprouting Broccoli
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter
Hi Colin,
We get some fairly inclement weather hereabouts and I suppose over the years I have had my share of trouble growing my Broccoli but up at about 500ft I really do not get the same bother from pests as they do lower down. Having said that I always stake my plants because of high winds but generally end up with excellent results.
I have had difficulties with Rudolph which generally crops directly after Christmas but one year it decided to crop at the end of October which totally cocked-up my successional growing. I have, by altering the sowing times get two different crops from Claret F1 and manage to have the final picking in the middle of June. Now that we have the summer Broccoli varieties I no longer have to do this.
Sadly due to the mishap I had last year I am not growing any Broccoli this year and the first time for over 50 years.
Broccoli is a fairly hungry plant and am wondering if nutrition may be the problem but feel that you would have worked that one out years ago.
I really am at a loss as to why you are so unfortunate because apart from Rudolph I have grown every variety you mention and many more without any real problems.
Of late I have been buying in bundles of Broccoli (Claret F1) at £2.50 a time at the rate of at least two bundles a week!
What I will say is that if you can get some seed of Original Italian Green Calabrese which is just like a green Broccoli It will give you a good crop before the bad weather sets it. The Summer Broccoli Varieties will do the same and they crop about 120 days after seeding and can be sown in succession until June. Maybe worth a try.
Whatever you decide I wish you every success.
Sincerely,
JB.
We get some fairly inclement weather hereabouts and I suppose over the years I have had my share of trouble growing my Broccoli but up at about 500ft I really do not get the same bother from pests as they do lower down. Having said that I always stake my plants because of high winds but generally end up with excellent results.
I have had difficulties with Rudolph which generally crops directly after Christmas but one year it decided to crop at the end of October which totally cocked-up my successional growing. I have, by altering the sowing times get two different crops from Claret F1 and manage to have the final picking in the middle of June. Now that we have the summer Broccoli varieties I no longer have to do this.
Sadly due to the mishap I had last year I am not growing any Broccoli this year and the first time for over 50 years.
Broccoli is a fairly hungry plant and am wondering if nutrition may be the problem but feel that you would have worked that one out years ago.
I really am at a loss as to why you are so unfortunate because apart from Rudolph I have grown every variety you mention and many more without any real problems.
Of late I have been buying in bundles of Broccoli (Claret F1) at £2.50 a time at the rate of at least two bundles a week!
What I will say is that if you can get some seed of Original Italian Green Calabrese which is just like a green Broccoli It will give you a good crop before the bad weather sets it. The Summer Broccoli Varieties will do the same and they crop about 120 days after seeding and can be sown in succession until June. Maybe worth a try.
Whatever you decide I wish you every success.
Sincerely,
JB.
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Colin Miles
- KG Regular
- Posts: 1025
- Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 8:18 pm
- Location: Llannon, Llanelli
Hi Johnboy,
Thank you for taking the trouble to answer at such length. I did try the Bordeaux one year, but without much success. The problem with the summer ones is the question of protecting them from caterpillars and we usually have more than enough in the way of peas and beans anyway.
One problem here that I didn't mention is ring spot which may be why the earlier varieties suffer more than the late ones.
I like your idea of staggering the sowing of Claret. When do you do these?
I am also 600ft up but reasonably sheltered on a gentle south/south east slope which warms up nicely - when we get sun.
Cheers
Colin
Thank you for taking the trouble to answer at such length. I did try the Bordeaux one year, but without much success. The problem with the summer ones is the question of protecting them from caterpillars and we usually have more than enough in the way of peas and beans anyway.
One problem here that I didn't mention is ring spot which may be why the earlier varieties suffer more than the late ones.
I like your idea of staggering the sowing of Claret. When do you do these?
I am also 600ft up but reasonably sheltered on a gentle south/south east slope which warms up nicely - when we get sun.
Cheers
Colin