"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...

I planted some seeds in March one has begun to sprout
the lovely purple stalk(?) from the tip and a few coming at the sides,
according to the seed packet they're not to be harvested until october
onwards....is it running to seed?
Sounds like it

if so is it because I've fed it too much
(nettle manure), watered it too much?
Probably a combination of warm spring and summer and not enough water
giving the plant a bit of stress and inducing the urge to procreate.
Everything in my garden is running very early this year - water lilies a
month early, lavender out in early June instead of August, ripe berries
on Amelenchier already, first loganberries ripe - and it's 10 years
since they were last ripe in June.

I *did* wonder about our blackberries, they're out and seem to be heading
towards ripening already, I thought it was a bit early, normally the kids
are back at school when Im picking them off the ditches, and then I wondered
if I was imagining it, looks like jam making will be starting about six
weeks early this year

is there a way of stopping it by
picking out the tip, dig it up?

Why? Just be delighted you have an early crop!

Oh I am kay I thought I'd have to dig it up and discard it, now Im
thrilled not only can we eat it but we get it a few months earlier :-)

Keep picking to prolong the flowering season.
Will surely, am freezing it as Im picking it until I have a 'batch' big
enough to feed all six of us

Thanks to you and all others who replied, glad I don't have to discard it,
it would be such a shame.

Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm