Sowing Times Sprouting Broccoli

[Colin Miles]

This is mainly a question for Johnboy!

2 years ago my Claret Sprouting Broccoli failed to germinate/grow, so I bought in plants from Suttons. They arrived Aug 22nd as part of a job lot with Late White Sprouting, Excel, Spring Hero Cabbages and Mayflower Cauliflower. I immediately potted them on and then planted out about 2/3 weeks later. Apart from Spring Hero, which decided that Autumn was Spring, all the other plants did exceptionally well. Very impressed with Excel - am about to start eating some sown last Autumn - and Mayflower sown early Feb in the green house and cloched is also doing well.

What I would like to know is, bearing in mind that the plants from Suttons would have been raised more quickly than I would be able to do, when would be the best time to sow Claret, Red Arrow and any other Sprouting Broccoli?

[Johnboy]

Hi Colin,
If the plants are to be raised in the greenhouse then really the whole month of April and the first two weeks of May are the best times.
Too early is the mistake to make. I planted Rudolph a few years back far too early and whereas it normally sprouts in last week of Jan and Feb it managed to peak in November. Those that were sown a month later, from the same seed source, were dead on target.
If the plant is for next year then I have found as a general rule it is better to be a tad late rather than a tad early. They always seem to catch-up during the growing season.
JB.

[Colin Miles]

Thanks Johnboy! I think I will wait a couple of weeks at least. As you say, they seem to catch with other earlier sown ones anyway.

[Johnboy]

Hi Colin,
A wise decision. I am convinced that when my Rudolph misbehaved that the single month difference made all the difference. There seems to be a kind of cut-off time which I have yet to work out.(probably never will either)
I always sow F1 Claret late and generally am still picking in the first week of June. This means that all the other varieties have been picked out before I even start on the F1 Claret.
I could not consider a vegetable patch without Broccoli.
JB.

[The Mouse]

...Too early is the mistake to make. I planted Rudolph a few years back far too early and whereas it normally sprouts in last week of Jan and Feb it managed to peak in November. ...
JB.

Spot on, as always, Johnboy

If only this thread had started a week earlier, I would have sown accordingly, but I had already sown my Rudolph on 25th April and now it is already coming into production

Not that I mind broccoli at this time of year - but I'm afraid the caterpillars and aphids might beat me to it - I didn't bother to keep it covered

Next year, I'll definitely be sowing later

[Colin_M]

Ok, I think I may started from the wrong place, but I saw some (un named) purple sprouting seedlings for sale in September and planted them out.

They are currently around 6 inches high with 2-3 leaves. I'm trying to protect them to help get them started. Am I likely to meet with any success (don't mind when they actually flower) and is there anything else you'd advise to give them the best chance?

[Westi]

I just checked my diary and I sowed on 19th April so also too
early. I have had a couple of pickings of PSB but it is sulking
now for a bit after cabbage white attack but just starting to
freshen up again so that might put it back on track.

I have also picked lots of brussel sprouts. I have several
different varieties and they are all in diferent stages of
growth. I can take them or leave them but mum in law loves
so thought I'd treat her and just popped in the seeds past or
near best by date. When the harvest is finished then I will
assess varieties - might try it again as looks like harvest will
be continuous right up to Dec / Jan period judging by them.

Westi

[glallotments]

Our sprouts are a disaster so any advice on growing them well would be appreciated.

[Mike Vogel]

Well, Westi, my sprouts were a total failure last year as well. I sowed them too late, i.e. end May, together with my caulis and sprouting brocc.

My problem with sprouts has always been termtime. I started by sowing in March and they were onthe plot in time for the butterflies to have a field day / week / month. I could only get on the plot at weekends and quite often I found a dry spell in April didn't help either.

This year I sowed them at home at the end of April, a month before the other brassicas. They were still on the small side even a few weeks ago, but are now looking very strong, if not yet tarribly tall. The dry September hasn't helped. I have kept them covered with enviromesh and that has done a power of good.

They have been overtaken height-wise by the sprouting brocc, especially the Redhead variety, but the other brassicas are just struggling along, some growing more robust, others just about surviving enough to give the prospect of a small head in spring. A good soaking and a deep mulch go a long way.

A slight disappointment has been that I have been careful to grow the brassicas after the beans but haven't always derived much benefit from doing so. Apparently beans aren't as great at fixing nitrogen as we think; in fact, they need most of the nitrogen themselves!

One thing I must try though is growing broccoli for summer and autumn cropping rather than only spring. Another project for future years.

[Monika]

We have grown the variety Montgomery the last two years and they have been excellent in growth, timing and taste. This year I sowed them in rootrainers on 10 April and planted them out mid-June. They are just starting to crop now and will most likely stand until about February/March.

Did you plant yours firmly enough, glallotments and Mike? I really ram the soil around the stem and also tie them individually to stakes, because our site is very windy.

[Johnboy]

Hi Mike,
What is so good about Summer Varieties of Sprouting Broccoli is that they can be sown in succession. According to the oracle they take 121 days from seeding to first picking. If you were to start in February and make the first day of the month your sowing day. Planting out two months later (or there abouts) but making sure that your plants have four proper leaves, well grown, and a good root structure. You can sow up to June which means five sowings and you will have started picking the Feb sown before you plant out the June sown which will be ready in about the first week of November. I tried sowing a sixth month in July and somehow it simply didn't work out. I have yet to experiment and plant on Jan the first (probably the second if NWE went well!) and this could well give a picking before Claret F1 has finished.
I sowed different varieties in an attempt of picking Broccoli in every week of the year but failed by three weeks.
What is so nice about the Summer Varieties is that when you have Runner Beans on the go you can get fed up with eating beans day after day and the Broccoli is always a very welcome alternative.
JB.

[Mike Vogel]

JB, I heartily agree with your last sentiment! Your scheme is a very good idea and I may well try it. I also want to have another go at calabrese; my previous attempts have had poor results, most likely because I've been unable to keep them well watered and clear of weeds.