The best way to pick it is as the shoots are emerging from the foliage. Take
it with large amounts of the tender green leaves around the brocolli, not
the old leaves and keep picking or it will go to seed. Delicious! I have
found mine is not so good this year and I put that down to lack of water

Dominic wrote:
: Last year I planted purple sprouting brocolli for the first time, and
: now it is ready for harvest.
:
: I am not that sure how much to take and when. I've tried some, and it
: is great, but I worry that I am taking it too soon and not getting a
: full yield. Or if I leave it too long will it get stringy? Any tips on
: when it is ready?
:
: It is good stuff though. Dark green, even the water it was cooked in
: turned emerald green after just a 2 minute simmer.
:
: Dom