The trouble with Broccoli (and other brassicas)

The trouble I've had with brassicas over the past few seasons were explained by a few lines I read recently in a gardening magazine. You see, each year they take forever to grow and then bolt with the early spring warmth before heads are fully formed or big enough. I thought I kept getting them in too late, but I didn't realise that inconsistent watering and feeding (guilty!) can cause them (or indeed any plant) to bolt. Derrr! Well it makes sense now. The plants think they might die and so try to reproduce (flower).

I did however get a couple of very nice savoy cabbages (here's one below) and lots of sprouting broccoli (no waiting for just one flower head).


Bolted Romanesco broccoli - not as impressive as last year's.


Still tasted ok though :)




I've also got some kohlrabi in that I'm about to harvest as they threaten to bolt (with the warm weather this time!) and am intrigued to see what they taste like. They look rather like aliens!!