Brassica Bed
Spring Planting in the Brassica Bed.
| Produce | When Planted | Expected First Growth | Expected Harvest |
| Cabbages | April | Planted as plants | July |
| Brussel Sprouts | April | Planted as plants | September/October |
Did you know that....?
The cabbages that we planted this year on 28th March were destroyed by the high winds in March and were also eaten be rabbits. The two rows were replanted on 9th April where we are now protecting them with netting until they become more established.
Cauliflowers come in three basic colors: white, green and purple. The variety that we grow in our garden are white. All Cauliflowers are composed of bunches of tiny florets on clusters of stalks.
The words broccoli and calabrese are different varieties of the same vegetable and are often confused. Generally Calabrese produces green heads whereas broccoli produces purple and white heads.
Broccoli is grown for its thick branching lower stalks which terminate in clusters of loose green flower buds. They are picked before the flowers bloom. Other vartieties produce individual stalks for each flower clump. Each plant produces green flower heads on thick stalks and both the stalks and buds are cooked. It is a fast-growing, upright, branched, annual plant, it has dense green clusters of edible flower buds and it is one of the most nutritious of vegetables.
Calabrese like Broccoli they are picked and eaten before the flowers bloom.
Kale is a good brassica to grow as it is immune to many of the diseases that other brassicas suffer and is tolerant of frost. It is very high in iron and beta-carotene, folate and Vitamin C.
Brassicas are also known as 'cruciferous' vegetables as the flowers they produce are cross-shaped.
A compound contained in brassicas has been identified to help in the fight against stomach cancer.
Calabreses are incorrectly sold in the supermarkets as 'broccoli'!