[Eastling]

Hi just going to start my first veg patch can i ask a few questions?

I have grown brocolli from seed indoors, they have two sets of leaves now how do i grow them on and what size do they need to be before putting outside? i know they will need to be hardened off.
thanks

[dizzy1pig]

you need to prick them out into a seed tray 5 x 7
usually does the trick. then grow them on. a couple of weeks anyway in the greenhouse,
then harden off in frame/outside daytime until frost done.
plant and wait

[Eastling]

Thank you will do

[Fleecewife]

Are they Calabrese or Purple Sprouting Broccoli, and if the latter are they the summer or winter kind ? Calabrese is more tender than psb so you need to watch for frosts.  psb is hardy and can be sown outside, although it does better protected from insect attack by being started off in modules.  The summer version of psb (santee etc) needs to get going quickly, the winter one should be sown in about May. psb needs 2' (65cm) between plants, but calabrese can be planted closer, depending on the cultivar.  The seed packet should tell you. Once you have planted them outside, protect from bird attack and from cabbage root fly.

[Llandovery Lass]

also protect from moths and butterflies,my OH, who does most of the cooking rejected a lot of my summer calabresse (how do you spell that?) due to tiny green caterpillars from some evil moth, I can deal with the whites by squashing but these little mights were hiding in the centre. If I was cooking I'd swish through salted water and cook what was left but he's a bit fussier than me.