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Post by Leenstar on Jun 25, 2013 8:50:57 GMT -5
I have notice for the past two years I cannot seem to grow a decent tasting broccoli. My daughter recently discovered she likes broccoli and I would love to grow it for us but I can't serve her what my garden is producing.
I have a cabbage month problem with recurrent visits over the past two years. I have the brassicas together since I am not seed saving this year with Broccoli, cabbage and kale all planted together. I had read that planting a second year can deter the cabbage worms so I tried that this year.
Last year I grew some random broccoli I got in trade from Little Minnie. All were bitter. THis year I went back to DeCicco which I had seeds in my collections. Also bitter.
Any insights, suggestions, recommendations about growing decent tasting broccoli?
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Post by steev on Jun 25, 2013 11:24:39 GMT -5
Is it not getting enough water to grow rapidly?
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Post by Leenstar on Jun 25, 2013 21:49:20 GMT -5
I owuld have thought it was last year's draught but this year it has been been pretty wet and the overall moisture levels are probably at normal levels to high rain levels this year.
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Post by ottawagardener on Jun 27, 2013 8:39:25 GMT -5
I was wondering if it might have something to do with heat as the taste of most brassicas seems to become stronger in it. Have you tried leaf broccoli. Not exactly the same thing I know.
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Post by ottawagardener on Jun 27, 2013 8:40:25 GMT -5
That said, I often wonder if off flavours are sometimes related to soil. In my last residence, I couldn't grow a non harsh tasting carrot. Here not a problem.
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Post by ferdzy on Jun 27, 2013 11:20:55 GMT -5
I wonder about soil too. We have really struggled with brassicas in our sandy, acidic soil. Bitter? I dunno. They hardly get big enough to assess. They have certainly not been top quality.
We amended the beds with dolomitic lime and Borax this spring before we put them in, and they are looking better than they ever have before. We'll see if they also taste better, but it will be a while yet - they just went in last week.
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Post by Leenstar on Jun 27, 2013 21:34:20 GMT -5
I've only had this garden going at this house for about two years. Two complete growing seasons. I have 7 other beds I think I will try in case the soil is the issue. The kale grown here always seems to do very well albiet a little cabbage moth worm eaten.
I should say that the plant look great (though small broccoli flowers) just bitter as all get out when eaten. I tried Joseph's landrace turnips in the same bed and ther are also bitter. A planting of the turnips last year looked good also but much to strong and bitter. Practically radishes in flavor.
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Post by steev on Jun 27, 2013 21:51:35 GMT -5
it really sounds like they aren;t happy; I think you have some nutrition issue.
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Post by littleminnie on Jul 1, 2013 18:43:39 GMT -5
Yes has to be the soil. The last 2 years here were hot and dry and the broccoli we did get was liked by the customers. This year I have some Happy Rich it already bolted its main head and now side shoots are already coming really well. It is supposed to be sweeter, even the stem. I haven't tasted it yet. I will do so this weekend or tomorrow raw.
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Post by cesarz on Jul 16, 2013 8:42:27 GMT -5
Hi Leenstar,
The nutrient that makes brassicas bitter is Sulfur, if you soil have lots of sulfur (i.e volcanic soil or been dressed with sulfur fertilizers, sulfuric fungicides or other sulfuric chemicals) your brassicas will always be bitter.
Does anyone here know how to remove or disable sulfur from the soil? It would help Leenstar a lot.
Or else, just plant them in potting mix.
I actually put sulfur in the soil where my mustard is growing so that it tastes stronger. Mustards for me, the bitterer the better.
Cesar Z
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Post by diane on Jul 20, 2013 1:06:57 GMT -5
Last year my four year old Purple Cape cauliflowers were unpleasantly strong-tasting. Every other year they were delicious.
Nothing to do with heat - these produce in February in the Northern Hemisphere, and I haven't done anything chemical to the soil.
I pulled them out so I won't know if they would have recovered their good taste the next year.
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Post by templeton on Jul 30, 2013 7:26:17 GMT -5
Response to insect attack? A single shock or setback like a day without water or frost? Just guessing...
Soil nutrition has lots of complex interactions. Compost application might work, or soil acidity issues.
T
T
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jul 30, 2013 14:45:32 GMT -5
I'm going with heat.... In my garden I have good tasting broccoli in the early summer, and in the late fall, but during the heat of summer it is too bitter to stand. Cabbage moths are brought into my garden on the summer monsoonal weather pattern (that's what we call it even though it usually doesn't bring rain). The local cabbage moth population freezes to death during the winter.
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