Cima di Rapa in flower

[columbine]

I decided to try growing some Cima di Rapa this year for the first time, and have successfully raised some from seed which I now have growing outside in the veg garden. They are about 30cm high now but have begun to flower. Isn't this too early? I presume I should remove the flowers so that they don't go to seed before I have time to pick the broccoli shoots.
Has anyone any experience with this vegetable who could advise, please?
Thanks.

[alan refail]

Hi Columbine

You are cutting off the parts you should eat!

When did you sow them? There are varieties known in Italian as Quarantina and Sessantina - meaning ready to cut 40 and 60 days respectively after sowing.

[columbine]

Oh, I haven't actually cut off the flowers, I was just wondering if I should. But, obviously not. The variety is Quarantina, but unfortunately I cannot find the note I made of when I sowed them I will just keep an eye on them and hope to harvest some spears in due course.
Thanks.

[Nature's Babe]

Columbine in this heat everything is maturing much quicker, I planted some ruby chard which ran to seed before it reached a decent picking size and I did water it too.

[columbine]

Heat? What heat? I live in mid Wales and whilst most of the UK has been having heat-wave temperatures we have been lucky if the thermometer has reached 20C most days! Still wearing long-sleeves and pullovers .......
I get what you mean about the flowering, though, and will just have to see what happens with the Cima.
Thanks.