Skip to main content

B is for Broccoli - purple sprouting of course


My purple sprouting broccoli is still pumping out, must be all the rain we are having. And this year or rather next years plants have germinated, yeah. The packet of seeds from Wilco only cost 54p, so no excuses not to grow it. Find a patch and plant out in June, ready the following year in March, April and May. Gardening requires some degree of patience!


After a fairly sparse couple of months on the leafy veg front, the start of the purple sprouting broccoli season marks a welcome addition to the winter vegetable palate. Simply steamed or boiled, it partners almost any fish or meat dish. I eat with Sunday lunch, something to look forward to.

HISTORY
Purple sprouting broccoli was initially cultivated by the Romans. Broccoli has been grown in the UK since the early 18th century, although the purple sprouting variety has only risen to prominence in the last 30 years.


BIOLOGY
Broccoli is a cruciferous plant, in the same family as the cabbage, and is closely related to the cauliflower.

NUTRITION
Cruciferous foods are now hailed as having a number of important health benefits. Purple sprouting broccoli contains the phytochemical sulphoraphane (thought to help prevent cancer) and may provide resistance against heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes. It is packed with vitamin C and is a good source of caretenoids, iron, folic acid, calcium, fibre and vitamin A.

All the information has been taken from eat the seasons web site
Labels:

Comments

Jo said…
I love purple sprouting broccoli but my plants are now on the compost heap. They started producing early, last year in fact, and ran out of steam.
19 April 2012 at 03:27
Eight by Six said…
wow that was early. Mine do have a lot of leaves but still plenty of lovely purple shoots coming through. This year I'm looking forward to planting them again but this time from the ones I've sown from seed. Hows the weather where you are? Kent has a house pipe ban yet its been raining almost non stop for days now!
19 April 2012 at 08:29
Annie Cholewa said…
Yum, I love this stuff. Made a dish combining it with red cabbage and onions at the weekend. Add some nutmeg, butter and a sploosh of sour cream ... heaven on a plate!
19 April 2012 at 15:12
Jo said…
Yes, we've had the rain too, Amanda. I didn't think it was ever going to stop. It even woke me through the night as it was pelting against the window. It's a much brighter start to the day today, but I don't think we'll see the day out without some rain.
20 April 2012 at 03:53
Eight by Six said…
Annie - that sounds delish especially the sour cream

Jo - we had more rain here today and more to come. It's so cold so I am knitting a jumper!
20 April 2012 at 16:28
Crafty Helen said…
Thanks for your kind comment. I will stop by (and probably ask for lots of advice), as have just taken on an allotment! xx
27 April 2012 at 08:29
Eight by Six said…
Helen - I forgot to say on your blog that I thought about you and wondered how you were. So pleased to see your back in blogger land and looking forward to reading more about your progress with your skirt x
29 April 2012 at 13:54
Unknown said…
I'm a broccoli lover too, and I mak a lovley broccoli and mushroom quiche, you should try it.
3 May 2012 at 17:26
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Denim Daisy Granny Square construction

And here it is all finished last Friday, just in time for a heat wave! Seriously I do love this jumper and it fits so well with a white t shirt underneath, jeans and flip flops. Just waiting for the cold spell so that I can wear it out (rather than around the garden when its cooled down in the evenings!). I haven't written a pattern as such just some helpful notes from my pad. If people want to know how to construct one have added some notes below. As you know the Daisy Granny Square is the design of Sue Pinner from her book  Granny Squares published 2013. I do love Sue's book, its packed with so many projects and ideas and the photos are beautiful. The daisy granny square pattern is quite addictive and you soon have a small pile of them in no time! I have an idea to make another one for the autumn in the same Debbie Bliss Rialto DK yarn but all edged in shade 90 honey, I have enough in my stash. Construction  Notes:  You need to make 18 grann...
5 comments
Read more

Summer Spice granny blanket pattern

Summer Spice Baby Granny Square Blanket Amanda Hurrell Eight-by-Six©     An easy to adapt granny square blanket, size given is for a baby blanket approx size 65cm x 65cm This is a free blog pattern but an add-free pdf can be purchsed from my LoveCrafts shop Sizes and Materials List Hook Size: UK 4mm (I use Clover brand) Stitch markers: (4) optional Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK (322 yds/295 metres per 100g ball) Tension: 22 stitches to 30 rows to 10cm on 4mm hook Pattern size of approx. 70 cm x 70 cm for baby/lap blanket or why not do a four colour pattern repeat for a larger blanket approximately 140cm x 140cm One each of the following 100g ball Wash care instructions: machine washable 40deg, cool tumble dry, cool iron, can be dry cleaned (I line dry mine) Colours (14 in total) Stylecraft Special DK and Cygnet DK Turquoise (1068) Aster (1003) Buttermilk (1835) Sherbet (10...
1 comment
Read more

My granny tee is finished

You might remember this post from about ten days ago, well I've now finished my 4th granny tee and I'm currently finishing off my fifth one this week that I stared last year (oops). Indigo Blue came about when I took delivery of my Scheepjes Skies mini skien box (heavy/aran) and I'm in love with this yarn! I was sitting watching a film when I had the sudden urge to crochet another Granny Tee by Sarah (aka annaboos house) The mini skeins are perfect and I ended up using two boxes plus a larger 100g skein for the sleeves and joining. It has amazing drape and the colours are a subtle shift of indigo that is going to look fabulous over a white t shirt with jeans and flip flops. Perfect partnership and so bang on trend for the tie dye look that's about for festivals for this summer.  The total cost was around GBP35 not including delivery and I think for a custom made jumper that's not a bad price. I measured it as I added rows then I added side slits to my g...
4 comments
Read more