17 March 2011

BACK TO BASICS

This week I reread the instructions on harvesting broccoli in Pat Welsh’s Southern California Organic Gardening. After cutting the large head, the plant will branch and produce side shoots. She reminds readers (and me) “the farther down on the stalk you cut, the fewer but the fatter will be the side branches you get.” So when harvesting the side shoots pictured above, I followed her advice. Some varieties of broccoli such as “Bonanza” may produce more side shoots. Check seed catalog descriptions. I like a long broccoli season.