Not sure I can read the OP, but if I folla, probably bolting in that zone.

Dan

Without a photo difficult to say. Temps in North Carolina should not be a problem until late spring. If you have full size plants ( 12-15 inches tall) you may be normal. Buttoning ( tiny quarter size heads) usaully occurs when the plant is 4-6 inches tall and is the result of stunting. Usually because they were kept in their pots too long before transplanting. My spring broccoli crop has not begun to head yet.
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I'm in Ohio so can't identify with your conditions in NC. It all depends on the weather, Last year my spring crop bolted and I waited until late summer and replanted to get a great fall crop. Two years ago We had a cooler spring and had a great spring crop. I think that I was just lucky with that spring crop. From now on I'm only going to plant a late crop of broccoli for fall harvest. I just have to remember to get my seeds started to fit that schedule. Another thing that I do is use shade cloth and a low tunnel hoop to cover them up if the temp. get really high.

Sounds like the plant is buttoning. It happens when the plant is stressed while young and it never fully recovers (it's a big problem with store bought transplants.)

Without pictures, it's hard to determine. I run a website about gardening and have pages dedicated to broccoli. Check out the following link: http://www.vegetable-gardening-made-simple.com/growing-broccoli.html

Surf through the broccoli pages. They have a lot of pictures of what you should be seeing as the plant grows and I actually used Packman broccoli the year I took the photos for these pages, so this should definitely be what you should be seeing if your plants are healthy.

If your getting side shoots before you harvested the main head, then likely the plant is buttoning (sorry, I haven't had a chance to write about that yet so no pics for that.)

If the plant is buttoning, it is still edible, just watch the heads and harvest them as you normally would, just realize they will be small. You won't get the 8 inch grocery store looking heads of broccoli.

You can also harvest some of the leaves from the plants and eat those. They can be cooked up much like kale, spinach, or swiss chard. I have a recipe on the site for sauteed brussel sprout leaves that is delicious and you can substitute broccoli leaves instead for the same recipe.

Good luck!

~Kelly

Here is a link that might be useful: Vegetable Gardening Made Simple

Packman is not likely to button if grown in good soil. You may simply have little heads that need time to grow. Before the next hot spell, pin together the topmost 3 leaves with clothespins, forming a shade tent over the little head. Then watch the size of the beads. When they start to fatten, the head is as good as it will get.

Plant broc again this fall. Great harvest in October where you are.

Thanks you guys good info and yes the plants are fully grown 12" Ht.Thanks again.

Just to add to the confusion, I grow broccoli, both spring and fall. Spring crop is the most productive. If your plants are 12 inches tall you should be fine. The heads fill out pretty fast ( week or so) just pick before many flowers open. The desired part is the flower buds.
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I know a gardener who plants Broccoli every Spring & Fall.
He always leaves the stalk up for the side crop/second crop.
I started doing the some & have had not problem.
We grow in the midlands of S.C.

I had just about given up on mine until yesterday! One of my 4 raised beds dedicated entirely to broc and cauliflower so i was starting to think of a better way to use the space if they were never going to bloom. Yesterday I looked closely at one and lo and behold a head is forming. They had been in the ground as starts since mid feb. Hopefully the cauliflower is not too far behind.

Got it!hey farmerdill that second picture is great,I'm gonna have to clip the main crop 'cause today I checked and starting to feel loose not compact like before and then just let the shoots grow,gosh wondering what will my cauliflower do I peeked and start growing a tiny head wich is kindof hidden; (very interesting) growing for the first time also I hope I get some 'cause all the coles are taking half of my precious garden space.wondering if I can use the same spot for summer vegetables later on?