Broccoli is a cole crop which means they prefer cooler temps. If temperatures are too warm, they will not create heads.

See the following thread:

Here is a link that might be useful: Broccoli

I'd give them another month. I planted here in my zone 9/10 in October, and the big heads just started coming in about a month ago.

Now I'm blessed with a lot of little side shoots. This is the best fall planting yields I've ever had. The only thing that I did differently this year, was to use Remay - mostly for control of cabbage butterfly, but it seems to have helped with temperature swings too.

Bejay

Green Goliath must take longer to get to harvest stage than the package indicates for folks trying to grow it in the South. From time of transplant in fall garden to first harvest was over 90 days in Z7b! It didn't start forming heads until night time temps went below 50 degrees which was in November, and after our first light frosts.

I had seeds left and have plants started to try in our spring garden. Maybe the 55 days to harvest works only in spring.

Opal -

My broccoli was OK - but my cabbages are just starting to head now, and I'm wondering if I'll have them ready for corned beef and cabbages - about St. Patrick's Day or thereabouts.

On reading my old Organic Gardening Encyclopedia yesterday, I found a helpful hint that advised giving broccoli/cabbages a shot of nitrogen to help along if hot weather is setting in - to help them head before they bolt.

I thought I'd try it today. My broccoli is still setting small heads - lots of them, but I need their space for other veggies - tomatoes, etc., so they gotta go.

Just my 2 c's.

Bejay

Sorry - I also wonder if a little sul-po-mag might be needed to supplement that nitrogen (mixed with compost/manure tea).

FWIW.

Bejay

I think growing those large, dense florets you see in the supermarket is a specialty of California commercial growers. I haven't seen anything like that in home gardens.

Take consolation in that types of broccoli which are raised for tasty, tender stems can be better eating than the florets, which are dry and feathery by comparison.

Jim

Bejay, Thanks for tip on fertilizing. If the broccoli doesn't mature in the 55 days as the package indicates in our spring garden, I'm afraid we will have problems with quick bolting so I want to do whatever I can to help it along before warm weather arrives.

I have always liked broccoli, but had never tasted it served fresh from the garden until we tried growing it last fall. What a huge and wonderful difference it makes. Now I have a hard time settling for the "fresh" broccoli sold at our local grocery stores :~)

Jim -

I'll bet those large broccoli were grown over near the Salton Sea - or the San Joaquin Valley perhaps. That is one of my favorite places to be in the winter time - the Sea-I mean. It is a great place for bird watchers - white pelicans, snow geese, etc., that winter there. The "Sea" also has a very interesting history as well - how it came to be, and what it's future will become. As long as it is used for agriculture run-off, I doubt if it will have prospects as a recreational or real estate venture.

My cole crops were great this year - but come to think of it, we had some pretty cold weather here for about a month or two - as they say "unseasonable" for Ca. Whatever it was my cole crops were exceptional this year. (I was trying to take most of the credit tho - heh, heh).

Bejay

I'm confused. I'm doing 'Green Goliath' for the first time...first time with broc period.
I noticed this morning that one of the smaller of the plants is already trying to bolt! I wintersowed mine starting 3/25 with germination by 3/30. They were planted by April 10 in the garden. Our temps have only hit the 80 once all spring and nights have been low to mid 40's!! So what gives?

Thanks,

Vera

I planted Calabrese Broccoli for the first time this year. Started them inside in February and planted outside at the end of April. I to only have stalks and leaves and no heads. They haven't started to bolt or seed, should I just wait? It's the end of July already.