I think the Broccoli would bolt this year, wouldn't it?

stuffradio getting head or sprouts on broccoli is bolting. bolting means a plant is flowering.

They bolt where I'm at here in San Diego. They "can" go on for a few months after harvesting the main head with side shoots, but the side shoots just get smaller and smaller as time goes on.

Avocado: if you're still able to harvest side shoots that seem to be worth it(water, space, etc.) and the plants seem to be in good health, then let 'em be. In any case, I'd get the new ones in the ground NOW before the heat comes in. Broccoli likes mild temps.

Kevin

This post was edited by woohooman on Sun, Feb 24, 13 at 16:19

Thanks guys. Yes come to think of it, the side shoots are getting smaller. I really didn't think much of it, because we also harvest broccoli leaves.

But, I'm going to keep one to see how long they live.

As Kevin suggested, this morning I planted the small ones.

In socal the usual rules for annual veggies are often upended. I have 3 kales of different varieties producing wonderfully in their second winter and a tomato that has survived the winter totally neglected.

As for broccoli, there is a 'perennial broccoli' called 9 star. I'd love to get my hands on some.

Here is a link that might be useful: nine star broccoli

I planted Broccoli last year then in the fall i cut them back to the base. come January tons of new shoots started popping up around the old roots. Ive thinned them to one stem so well see what they do.

I cut back mine in the Summer. At Fall, new branches came out. I didn't cut back in the Winter. Maybe I should have. I see that more branches are shooting out, and some new shoots from the ground.

Where I garden, in the pacific northwest, broccolis and their relatives (kale, collards, etc) are perennial if you keep their flower heads cut off. and, with broccoli, the flower heads are the part you eat :).

This prompts me to ask a related question, though, so I will start a new thread.