Brassica 'Purple Sprouting Broccoli' |
Origin: 1800's cultivar?
Zone Range: 6-9
Preferred Situation: Full/semi sun; well draining fertile soil.
Harvest Date: Wednesday 23 April, 2008
Description:
Tall plants get taller and more vigorous every year in cultivation (can resemble a shrub!) with thick green stems and smooth margined wavy edged white veined leaves. The nickel to loonie sized dark purple sprouts are best harvested when 10-18 cm long. Stronger tasting than regular broccoli, but that means it has more cancer fighting phyto's.
Notes:
Open pollinated heirloom. Cold hardy to -10C with protection. Plants will survive for years if you don't let them set seed. One customer told me his grove of 'Purple Sprouting Broccoli' is 7 years old because he doen's let his plant set seed. Will self sow but plants don't fare well. Harvest flowering shoots and use like rapini or Chinese broccoli; turns green when cooked. Nice for veggie platers. Yummy.
Cultivation:
Sow 6 mm deep. Keep moist. Opt. germination temp: 15-25 C. Days to germ: 7-14. Culture: full sun; well draining average soil; moderate feeder start April or May for June transplants. Feed well until mid August and let plants harden off. Over winter and enjoy the early spring shoots. Vigorous plants will never have you buying broccoli. If you want your plants to last for years...don't let plants set seed!! This kills the plant. Mulch with straw if weather threatens.
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