Re: Fall Contest - Show us your Biggest Brassica, Broccoli!

**walshevak** 10/28/2011, 4:53 pm

southern gardener wrote:boffer: We ate some of the stems from our broccoli plants, and they were SWEET! We liked them as much or better than the heads! Just sort of tried it...who knew??

For years now I have been using the stems of the broccoli in my oriental stir fry recipe. It just seemed such a waste when I was buying the broccoli by the pound to throw the stems away. Shredded up, they make a great "broccoli slaw". I love the flavor.

Bad on me, I have even used the stems and "forgot" the florettes in the fridge until too late. I was "saving" them for use with dip and saved a little too long. Embarassed

Kay

AZDYJ2K 10/29/2011, 2:10 am

boffer wrote:BUT! get this: just for grins, I covered one box full of broccoli with shade cloth. The plants got some direct morning sun, but were protected after 10am or so. I measured the temp at the soil line, in the shade of the shade cloth, and temps were usually about 10 degrees cooler than ambient. The plants in that box still aren't making heads even though I have harvested nearly all the other plants. What does that mean? Beats the heck outta me!

boffer, could it be that the covered broccoli did not get enough sun?

**llama momma** 10/29/2011, 6:50 am

When to Harvest Broccoli -
I read somewhere that broccoli buds should be the size of matchstick heads and the entire head should be very tight, with no separation of the florets, like the way they usually look in the supermarket.

**llama momma** 11/1/2011, 7:19 pm

Does anyone know if I should keep the tulle covering on the broccoli right up to harvest? I have had several frosty mornings, one in the high twenties and a couple nights in the low to mid thirties. Between the tulle cover and Bt I have not seen a worm in weeks. Just wondering....

**Furbalsmom** 11/2/2011, 4:13 pm

llama momma

I kept the tulle over my brassicas right up thru harvest. Since they doin't need to be pollinated, there is no reason to remove the tulle. It is quite likely the cabbage butterflies have already been zapped by the frost, but if just one is still flitting around, it could lay eggs and start you off on the cabbage worm cycle.

**llama momma** 11/2/2011, 6:10 pm

furbalsmom
Ahh, that makes good sense, thanks a bunch!
llama momma

staf74 11/3/2011, 7:48 am

Mina are all heading up nicely.....watch this space Very Happy

Especially you Squat Wink

**llama momma** 11/3/2011, 5:25 pm

Mine are too! We're chasing you down Squat! rahrah

Squat_Johnson 11/4/2011, 10:33 am

I'm ROOTING for ya. This is one time I would be happy to lose a competition.

Lavender Debs 11/4/2011, 11:59 am

This has been a fun thread. I just wanna show off a little. This was a spring planted broccoli. The seed is Thompsons OP from TTS. The side shoots on this plant were larger than the main head on some of my other plants. I did not set it between book ends to confirm the measurment. I'm just crazy happy with a head that I thought could only happen with chemicals. The only difference between this plant and other broccoli's that I put in was that the compost I used in this first year MM was home grown instead of 5 kinds of bagged.

Fall Contest - Show us your Biggest Brassica, Broccoli! - Page 6 Img_0024

Fall Contest - Show us your Biggest Brassica, Broccoli! - Page 6 Img_0024

My small family got 3 meals from the orginal head (harvested July 11) and ate side shoots until late August.

In case the pictures are still disabled, I gave this big girl a place on one of my blogs. You can see her here: http://musicofrain.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/i-found-my-favorite-broccoli/

**llama momma** 11/5/2011, 8:17 am

Squat_Johnson wrote:I'm ROOTING for ya. This is one time I would be happy to lose a competition.

Squat: This is a simple and fun little contest but its also a nice time to note your grace and class too! way to go

Lavender Debs: that is a beautiful head of naturally composted-fed broccoli cheers

I see where you said it was not a "confirmed measurement" yet she's a gorgeous example of fine gardening. I am still waiting for my heads to broaden out.

**llama momma** 11/12/2011, 6:49 pm

Is anyone else still growing broccoli ? Finally have 12 little "Premium Crop" heads from late August transplants. Now it is November 12th and I'm concerned I will run out of nice growing season. Everything is very deep green colored, no insects, yet smaller than I expected by now. Sure wish I had written down harvest date from last year! Sadly when I transplanted in late August I didn't have enough finished compost for the new box. Ended up using Bumper Crop, manure, and a little finished compost. And frequent llama tea. Yet I am concerned and so far not as impressed with this years plants Sad

staf74 11/13/2011, 8:13 am

Heads are still growing. Check out my video update. I think 7 inches is my biggest so far. Probably two weeks form harvest.

**llama momma** 11/13/2011, 9:11 am

The video was really nice! Great Job! Saw and admired your broccs, think I'll go outside now and do a cheer for my little ones, pray, yell at them, or something! Last year's broccs I swear were so much better by this time..and it was my first attempt at sfg. :scratch:

**RoOsTeR** 11/13/2011, 9:15 am

Yes, I just watched your video too. It was great! Your broccoli, and all your other plants and veggies too, look excellent. Nice job cheers

sherryeo 11/13/2011, 6:58 pm

I have broccoli transplants growing. They look pretty good, but still have a ways to go before any heads start appearing. I tried growing some from some seeds that BBG sent me, but I just didn't have any luck with them. I'm sure it was completely my inexperience. I feel bad after BBG took the trouble to send the seeds. I think I have a few left and might try again some time. Then I just happened to find some transplants and bought a few.

I don't know whether they'll be in time for the contest and really didn't anticipate being a "contender" for the prize, anyway. I just wanted to play along and be part of the fun! Hopefully, I may at some point get some harvest from them!

littlejo 11/13/2011, 7:48 pm

I want to congratulate all that have made it to the list of contenders!
I was not really trying to grow broc. for the contest, I just wanted some to eat!
I planted about 17 transplants, 2 have put on heads. I think we should have a contest for the smallest head that is blooming!
1.5 inch heads, and we had a freeze Friday(25deg.) and Sat and Sun we got up to 76 deg. I looked this eve. and 1st looks like it will bloom in the next couple of days!
Any hints to keep the heads growing without blooming in this weather?

FamilyGardening 11/13/2011, 11:27 pm

mine are still growing....no heads yet....but still hoping Very Happy

hugs

rose

Squat_Johnson 11/14/2011, 12:32 pm

Still hoping that someone knocks me off the hill... Bump

southern gardener 11/14/2011, 4:56 pm

well, just planted ours from seed about a month ago...so I'll be waaaaaaay behind!! affraid

staf74 11/15/2011, 11:03 am

I have two at 7 inches right now.....growing growing but I can't see them getting past nine. Still waiting.

**llama momma** 11/15/2011, 5:54 pm

Wow! That's Big! Keep watering! ANSFG book says, "consistant moisture. Never let broccoli dry out or wilt." Page 199. I am feeling a little guilty!

staf74 11/16/2011, 2:45 pm

Rained all night. Up to eight inches. I will be sure to keep them watered. They seemed to put on a growth spurt over night. I will post a pic later.

squaredeal 11/16/2011, 7:54 pm

littlejo wrote: I think we should have a contest for the smallest head that is blooming!
1.5 inch heads, and we had a freeze Friday(25deg.) and Sat and Sun we got up to 76 deg. I looked this eve. and 1st looks like it will bloom in the next couple of days!
Any hints to keep the heads growing without blooming in this weather?

I agree on the "smallest head" contest. Or," how many beautiful cauliflower plants can you grow without producing a single head". I'd win that one for sure!

**RoOsTeR** 11/18/2011, 7:59 am

staf74 wrote:Rained all night. Up to eight inches. I will be sure to keep them watered. They seemed to put on a growth spurt over night. I will post a pic later.

I hope that is the broccolli measurement and not the rain you got I give up!

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