Purple Sprouting Broccoli 'Early Purple Sprouting'

A quintessential British winter vegetable, 'Early Purple Sprouting' is prized for providing a bountiful harvest of tender, purple spears during the 'hungry gap' of late winter and early spring. The plants are large, bushy, and extremely hardy, surviving even the most severe UK frosts. They require a long growing season, usually sown in late spring for harvest from February to April the following year. The plants reach about 90cm in height and need plenty of space and firm soil to prevent them from rocking in winter winds. Regular picking of the spears encourages more to grow, extending the harvest for several weeks. The flavor is sweet and the color is vibrant, though it turns green when cooked. It is a vital source of vitamins during the early months of the year. Protection from pigeons is absolutely essential during the winter, as they can strip a plant of its foliage and developing spears in a matter of days.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Firm, fertile, alkaline soil.

Hardiness: H6 — down to −20°C.

Flowering: Mar, Apr, May.