Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
from March to May, or early March to mid-May for harvesting May to mid-July.
Although you can sow during the summer, broccoli really doesn't like the heat,
so for later harvests it is best to grow a heading variety outside.
Growing
Transplant the seedlings into the bed at 60cm each way, or 45cm each way for
fast-maturing varieties, and protect with fleece in freezing weather. Do not allow
the soil to dry out, especially once flowering starts.
Harvesting and storage
Cut from the base of the main flower stem as soon as it forms. Don't leave it too
long as the flavour and texture deteriorate once the tiny flowers open - something
that can happen very quickly in warm weather. If the bed is not needed immedi-
ately, leave the plants in place to form smaller flowering side-shoots. Don't forget
that small, tender leaves are also edible (and very tasty). Broccoli plants do not
do well in hot, dry weather, so if spring plantings begin to struggle, don't wait for
side-shoots. Leave the main flowering stem to plump up, harvest it, and remove
the whole plant to free up space sooner for other plants.
Broccoli for freezing is best harvested early, when the heads are still tight. Split
them lengthways into sections no more than 3cm thick, blanch for two or three
minutes, and spin or shake thoroughly before open freezing on lightly greased
trays to reduce sticking. Treat gently once frozen to avoid the heads being bashed
to pieces. Frozen broccoli should be plunged into a large pan of lightly salted
boiling water and served as soon as the stems are tender.
Problems
Club root
,
caterpillars
,
flea beetles
,
aphids
, birds and
slugs.
Cabbage
Varieties:
'Précoce de Louviers', 'Hispi'
Cabbages have been undergoing something of a renaissance in the last couple of
decades, throwing off their old reputation as soggy, smelly and strong-tasting - a
combination of the worst characteristics of some older varieties and the tradi-
tional habit of boiling them to death. Now they are available in a bewildering
