what's in a name?

The health-giving benefits of 'broccoli' are reported constantly. This week there were claims of its benefit in combating the onset of diabetes.

All this health, and sooo easy to grow in a reasonable summer.

Let's get the confusion out of the way first though. The vegetable that they refer to as 'broccoli' is, to be exact calabrese. Broccoli is similar but with a spicier flavour and available for a more limited period during the year - typically April.

Calabrese are sown into pots in the greenhouse and brought on until they can be planted outside. They're planted about 30cm apart and produce a single large floret. This is the 'broccoli' bought in the greengrocers and supermarkets.

If left after harvesting, the plants will produce a second flush of smaller florets. Calabrese is a summer plant and is said not to last through cold winters.

Successional sowing is a good idea. Our other bed of calabrese has just produced a large crop that we have frozen. The bed pictured was planted about six weeks later, and is looking strong. The netting provides protection from rabbits and wood pigeons.

The other enemy of calabrese is the large white butterfly, Watch out for caterpillars!

Calabrese is a reliable performer in the brassica ensemble! Highly recommended.

Reliable calabrese

Continuing the flowers in the garden theme that has developed over the past few days......

Calabrese is probably the easiest of the brassica family to grow. In the UK it is sold in supermarkets as 'brocolli' - but real brocolli is a taller member of the cabbage family and has lots of separate flower spikes. It is frost tolerant and is usually harvested in spring. Calabrese is tender and does not tolerate frosts. In appearance its florets probably most closely resemble cauliflower.

Calabrese seeds are sown in spring and take around twelve weeks to come to maturity. Short, compact plants are produced with a central 'tree' of florets. The floret is cut and the plants may then be composted or fed to the hens. Alternatively, if left, the plant will then give a second crop of smaller florets. Successional sowings should ensure that there is abundant calabrese from June to October. Surpluses freeze well.

Calabrese has always been the most reliable part of our brassica garden rotation. Germination is easy and the growing plants need very little cosseting. Rabbits love it and so protection is required.

Stalwarts of Leapool Allotments (where we garden) tell us this has been the worst gardening year since the allotments were opened in 1947. Needless to say that even reliable calbrese has been very disappointing this year.