On Tue, 16 Dec 1997, George Shirley wrote: > Out poking around in the garden today and discovered two things: the green > beans were slightly frostbit the other night and the broccoli has huge > heads now. This is the first year in most of a lifetime in the souf' that > we have gotten these huge, grocery store type broccoli florets. These > things are six or eight inches across and nowhere near bolting yet. I'm > tempted to leave them awhile longer but worried they might bolt as we are > expecting a "heat wave" up into the 40's and 50's this week. What's the > experience from the bandits of broccoli out there. See any bits of yellow among the broccoli buds? If not, they're not getting ready to bolt quite yet. If you see yellow petals peeking out, time to start freezing broccoli. ;-) I rarely see it bolt until the temps are in the 80's, but you may have different cultivars. > > Another question: this is the first time we have grown fava beans. Those > things are about 30 inches tall, covered with really neat looking pea > blooms but no sign of making a bean yet. We planted them in September as > our springs and summers are probably too warm for them. Are they gonna make > and are just slow or what? Sounds like "just slow". Horse beans are sorta long season for me. > calls for cold weather. For all of you out there covered in snow and ice - > phfft! > > George, grinning and picking Pffftthhhhwp to you, too. ;-) Kay Lancaster kay@fern.com just west of Portland, OR; USDA zone 8, with yet more cold rain. Bleaghhhhh! (but the roses are STILL blooming)