Brassica oleracea botrytis aparagoides
| Brassica oleracea | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Late Summer |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Brassica oleracea botrytis aparagoides (common name: nine star perennial broccoli)
Propagation: Seed - sow in a seedbed outdoors in April. Transplant into their permanent positions as soon as the plants are large enough and there is space in the garden. Do not let the seedlings get overcrowded or they will soon become leggy and will not make such good plants. If your seedlings do get leggy, it is possible to plant them rather deeper into the soil - the buried stems will soon form roots and the plant will be better supported.
Cultivation: Prefers a position in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[1]. Prefers a heavy soil. Succeeds in any reasonable soil. Succeeds in maritime gardens[1].
Nine star perennial broccoli is occasionally grown for its immature flower head, this is a perennial form of cauliflower that produces one small central cauliflower-like head and a number of smaller broccoli-like spears in early spring. Plants do not often live for more than 3 - 5 years.
Grows well with celery and other aromatic plants since these seem to deter insect predations[2][3][4]. Grows badly with beet, tomatoes, onions and strawberries[3][4].
Range: A cultivated form of B. oleracea.
Habitat: Not known in the wild.
Edibility: Immature flowering head - raw or cooked[K]. The plant forms a small cauliflower head in early spring. When this is harvested, another 6 - 12 smaller cauliflowers are produced on sideshoots[K]. The plants are not highly productive, but they are well-flavoured and make an excellent vegetable[K].
Leaves - raw or cooked. They have a mild cabbage flavour and can be harvested all year round, though be careful not to weaken the plant and thereby reduce the yield of flowering heads[K].
Usage: An extract of the seeds inactivates the bacteria that causes black rot[4].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Allardice, Pamela. A-Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers, 1993.