Tip – Cut the top from this plant as soon as big enough to eat. This encourages the rest of the sprouts to mature at the same time rather than gradually but can reduce the crop slightly.

I have also put in some quick growing Broccoli Autumn Calabrese seeds. I have sown them thinly in a tray of moist seed compost and enclosed the tray in a polythene bag. I shall keep them indoors until they germinate which should be 14-21 days. They will need potting on and hardening off before planting into their final position but I am more confident with that now. At first I was very nervous when growing brassicas and lost a lot of seedlings.

Tip – Once you have cut the large central head from Broccoli leave the root in and you will more than likely get some tasty side shoots.

The fruit cage has been fixed, the fruit bushes in there pruned and the strawberries tidied up ready for the new season.

The bean trench has been dug and a new frame erected. Seeds should go into individual pots in April.

The brassica tunnel is almost finished being repaired and would be finished if the drill hadn’t run out of steam at the last minute. The brassica seedlings are coming along and some have been repotted already

Rob has started to build a second brassica cage but I haven’t seen it yet as I was at home repotting about fifty seedlings of tomatoes and brassicas.

The lean to is tidy and ready to receive a few rows of lettuce, spring onions and raddish which should be harvested before the tomatoes and cucumbers are ready to go in.

The courgette bin has been repaired, extended and filled with good compost from the ‘daleks’ and the seedlings are looking good and healthy so far.

We have made a start on a raised bed for the melons which we have covered with a metal cloche which we shall cover with polythene once the plants are in.

Cabbage Brigadier F1 Hybrid (Autumn/Winter). Ideal to grow a quality giant cabbage, producing heads up to 14lbs. Delicious eaten raw, with a high sugar and Vitamin C content, but also excellent when cooked, Stands well in good condition, with Fusarium resistance. Thompson & Morgan.

Cabbage Greyhound Reliable and early maturing, Greyhound produces compact plants with very few wasted outer leaves. The tasty, pointed hearts can be cropped from mid summer well into autumn. Alan Romans.

In the same tray I have sown one row each of Cauliflower All The Year Round, Cabbage Primo ll and Cabbage Glory of Enkhuizen. All for Summer Harvest. update on germination – Cabbage Primo ll  (new seeds) 100%; ATYR & GOE (old seeds) nothing.

Today I sowed six seeds of the Broccoli Romanesco. I have tried them before but only managed to get one to mature.

Matures in around 85 Days; late Autumn/early Winter. Romanesco has a taste and texture exceeding the finest broccoli and to really appreciate the flavour it should be boiled or stir fried and served with melted butter.

Sow seeds in a well raked, firm seed bed in late spring,½” deep and keep moist. Sowing can also be made under glass at this time. Transplant the seedlings 18″ apart when they have made 2-3 true leaves. For best results grow in a rich, fertile soil and water regularly.

Calabrese and Broccoli contain many healthy antioxidants. They are high in Vitamin A and C and are a good source of iron. information from Thompson & Morgan.