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Broccoli - advice please

• Message 1. 

  Posted by BigG up North (U1914634) on Monday, 28th June 2010

  I've been meaning to ask for a while, I have for the first time grown broccoli as I've known it, i.e. a main head rather than sprouting broccoli that I grew in my first year. With the sprouting broccoli I understand that the more you pick, the more will grow, but what about the main broccoli.
  
  I planted two late last autumn and managed to over winter, despite the frosts, and last weekend we had a fantastic full head of broccoli, but I'd noticed that there were extra shoots and a new head forming.
  
  Do these taste as good, should they be cut away and if they do keep growing then how many heads from one plant.
  
  I thought it was one head per plant and have another 4 plants, sown early this year also growning rapidly, but if they are all going to come to fruition then how can you store, i.e. can it be frozen and if so how long should it be blanched for to ensure that it's taste is maintained.
  
  As always to all those who give advice, thank you in anticipation.

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• Message 2

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  Posted by the2 jays (U14383723) on Monday, 28th June 2010

  Depends which one you planted. There's one called Iron Man that sends out side shoots when you've harvested the head.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by BigG up North (U1914634) on Tuesday, 29th June 2010

  The2 jays - thanks - I'll have to have a look and get back to you - cheers

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  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Tuesday, 29th June 2010

  Surely the best thing to do with crops is EAT THEM. Remember, freezing improves nothing.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by rokurota02 (U14481011) on Tuesday, 29th June 2010

  On the seed packet of my regular calabrese it says the side shoots will grow, not like main stem of course but worthwile . To be honest, I haven't had the chance to see this happen.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Ian W (U8604472) on Wednesday, 30th June 2010

  Unnecessary post BaraGwenith. Crops often mature within a short time period and a glut results. Freezing allows the safe storage of those crops so that they can be eaten over a longer period of time.

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• Message 7

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  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Wednesday, 30th June 2010

  Ian, the OP says she has two plants, she is not likely to be that overrun, and my premise remains the same; home-frozen greens are often, but not always, not very nice. It is very easy to squirrel things away rather than regarding them as a seasonal bounty, and eat them until they come out of your ears.

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• Message 8

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  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Wednesday, 30th June 2010

  Apologies if the OP is not a she; I should have said he/she. Even with an additional 4 plants there is not likely to be a glut.

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• Message 9

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  Posted by BigG up North (U1914634) on Wednesday, 30th June 2010

  BaraGwenith - the original poster is most certainly a he (at least I was the last time I looked)
  
  I fully appreciate that we would love to eat everything fresh from the garden, but as a relatively new gardener I have not perfected the art of growing and starting things at different times - I planted two plants late last year and another 4 this spring early on, next year I will be spacing further apart.
  
  However, for some reason the ones planted this year have almost caught up those planted in the latter part of last year, hence we will have 6 very substantial broccoli heads all being ready in the space of 2-3 weeks.
  
  The first two were large enough to feed a family of four at two different meals.
  
  I don't want to leave them on the plant to turn to flower as we wasted a lot of sprouting broccoli last year that way and I have reduced the number of those plants this year to 6.
  
  I also have other crops growing and which need harvesting i.e. last night we had broad beans, peas, sprouting broccoli and potatoes from the garden, but as I have said we want to use it all, and where possible use fresh, but I am not willing to let it just overgrow and then go to waste, hence the question regarding blanching.
  
  I hope this explains the purpose to the question.
  
  Thanks for all the advice, by the way the shoots did taste good.

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