Our broccoli is doing fantastic this year. This may well be the best crop I've ever grown. I have a dozen plants setting crowns right now and each one is about 6 inches in diameter. I harvested about half of them today.
Unlike my Asian greens, the slugs, leafminers and cabbage warms don't seem to be bothering the broccoli all too much. This is my second year growing 'Bonanza' and I couldn't be happier with it. This variety matures relatively early and produces lots of side shoots long after the main head is cut. Last year, I was still harvesting them in early December.
There's nothing like eating broccoli that's been cooked within minutes of being harvested. Homegrown broccoli is sweeter, crispier and less stringy than what you find at the supermarket, which is why I like to slice up and stir-fry a good amount of the stem as well.
How is your broccoli doing this fall?
Yum! The broccoli looks so good.
ReplyDeleteI idiotically planted broccoli this year in June and my Tennessee summer was HOT! but they did surprisingly well for the weather.I was able to get the expected 2 harvests from them. The hungry groundhogs were a bigger threat than the heat.
It's great to see such a successful season. Hopefully it's a preview to what we'll get from our plants in several weeks.
ReplyDeleteWow, it's amazing, i have never seen anyone grow brocolies that great. Do you know the leave is edible? Back in Vietnam we use the young leave in stirfry or soup, or make great food for the chooks
ReplyDeleteIt looks great, Thomas!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you have a recipe to share?
Your broccoli is so beautiful that I can't stand to look at it!!
ReplyDeleteHopefully I will have some success with my fall broccoli as the spring crop was a total failure.
I LOVE the inspiration I get from your blog!!! When did you start the seeds? I obviously started too late.
ReplyDeleteJohanne
These are beautiful and no doubt delicious. I've been following your blog for a while and have been wondering: what are, say, the top three vegetables (or fruits) you've grown that you would recommend growing for their superiority in taste over supermarket produce?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - I start the seeds indoors on the first of July. I set them out in early August.
ReplyDeleteAnn - Great question! Heirloom tomatoes have to be number one. Also nothing beats the crisp of a freshly picked cucumber. And homegrown corn, when pollinated properly and picked a the peak of sweetness is just amazing.
Linda - I posted a recipe last night! Hope you like it!
ReplyDeleteYour fall broccoli looks great. I have limited space so I don't know where I would plant the stuff in August but I will have to consider it for next year. This year I planted Green Comet the end of May. It produced fairly loose heads with a strong cabbage taste. It is now pumping out lots of shoots that taste much better. Some are going to get used in your chicken stir fry recipe.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful broccoli.
ReplyDeleteThanks for answering my question! Will keep your opinion in mind for next year.
ReplyDelete