Thanks to John Harrison of Allotment & Gardens
There is a lot of confusion over the difference between broccoli and calabrese . The easy way for gardeners to remember is that broccoli is an over wintered crop and calabrese produces its crop the same year it is sown, before winter starts.
Both are brassicas and general brassica growing instructions can be followed.
Varieties of Broccoli
- Claret F1 is an exceptional purple sprouting broccoli hybrid which producing thick spears with good quality and colour which mature in April. It is a vigorous plant forming well, even on poorer soils , so you need fewer plants to produce the same yield as you would with some other varieties. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM).
- Bordeaux F1 is an outstanding variety for later in the year. You can pick many quality purple spears from early summer through until late autumn. It requires no cold stimulus to produce its traditional tasting spears. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM).
- Nine Star Perennial is a broccoli which will continue to provide about 8 small pale green heads of broccoli each spring for 2-3 years as long as they are harvested before they begin to open. It is very vigorous so give it at least 90cm (36in) spacing between plants.
Pests and Problems
Like most of the brassicas they are affected by clubroot and, if this is a problem on your vegetable plot, you should read the articles on clubroot listed below as well as the articles on general brassica pests and problems
Cultivating Broccoli
Sow seeds between April – June. Sow them into trays or a well prepared seed bed in drills 1cm (1/2″) deep spaced 30cm (12″) apart. Cover seeds with a fine soil and keep moist during germination. Plant out in early summer for a crop in the following February/March through to May.
A sheltered site is best for them as they have to stand over winter. Earth them up around their stems to about 10cm (4 inches) to help prevent wind rock. If the site is windy staking them is a good idea.
Keep them netted or the pigeons will thank you for a tasty meal. Broccoli grows slowly but is not a very hungry plant. Improved results can be achieved, though, by giving a liquid feed high in nitrogen during the spring as the heads begin to form.
Seeds will store for up to 4 years . A family would probably only need 2-3 plants per year.
Harvesting & Cooking Broccoli
The fresher the broccoli spears are the better their flavour . Steaming tends to retain more flavour and texture than boiling does but whichever cooking method you use they will turn green once cooked.
Broccoli may Prevent Cancer
Broccoli is considered to be one of the “super foods”. A number of studies suggest that it can help to protect you from bowl cancer, one of the biggest cancer killers in the UK today . Broccoli contains a chemical called sulphoraphane which is thought to help against colon cancer by neutralising cancer-causing substances found in the gut.
In a study published in the British Journal of Cancer (published by the research journal Nature) the researchers show that in laboratory tests, a compound called indole-3-carinol (I3C), found in broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage can increase the levels of BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins that repair damaged DNA. This is helpful against some forms of cancer including breast, ovarian and prostate cancers.
