I was puttering around in the garden the other day pulling weeds when I noticed the full broccoli heads were beginning to show some slight yellow coloring, a sign that the plant was beginning to bolt. Sometimes in the past I’ve waited too long to pick the heads and they bolted, they become stringy with a lot of long stems growing out of the broccoli head like pins in a pin cushion, each stem topped with a yellow flower. They still taste good that way, but don’t look like traditional broccoli. I wasted no time harvesting this year, washing and slicing them into smaller pieces for dinner. They are tender and sweet, and tasted just wonderful. With our long summer daylight vegetables grow fast, and often bolt before they fully mature. I’ve got to remember to keep a close eye on their progress.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist
Broccoli are a staple part of our diet, Gail. How great to grow your own! I always look for the heads that look as purple green as possible as they contain the most of an anti-cancer compound. Broccoli are packed full of goodness for health. You are right about having to watch them before they flower.
Noella,
Good for you! Broccoli is a basic food group for us.
Gail