Calabrese harvesting and preserving

Jolaaled

Hi all.
My calabrese plants have all got tight flower heads (although one of these is even starting to open up into little yellow flowers too).

What is the best time to cut the heads (I assume it's best to do this prior to the actual yellow flowers opening up!!..or are these edible too???).

Can I freeze calabrese ok...or is there another way to preserve??

THANKS

annie123

Jolaaled wrote: »

What is the best time to cut the heads

A week ago before it thought of flowering;)

How to freeze.
http://www.pickyourown.org/freezing_broccoli.htm

my flowering heads go to sons bunnies, so no idea if they taste any good, but I'm sure someone will be along soon who knows.
I've given up sowing in the spring as mine always bolt, so from now on only going to grow it as an autumn crop.

Jolaaled

I didn't know Calabrese could also be sown for autumn...is it too late to do a sewing now?

thanks

annie123

Depends where you are I guess.
I'm in London and have a south facing garden.
My seeds are sown 14 weeks before my last frost date (mid November) and are shaded from mid day sun by the tall peas which will be finished soon.
If frost threatens in the autumn I just pop a fleece cover over them, except the last two winters, which were unusually cold for here, the frost was so hard it killed them off.

You will need a quick maturing one, check your seed packet.
I find I get much better results and don't have to worry about bolting.
I also eat more of it then so dont have to store it in the freezer.