Harvest sprouting broccoli

FRESH VEGETABLES are in short supply on the veg plot at this time of year, which makes purple- and white-sprouting broccoli all the more valuable. This type of broccoli can survive the cold weather and produces lots of small, leafy heads from late winter into spring. Summer broccoli ( or calabrese), on the other hand, is a tender plant that produces larger, dense heads for cropping in summer and autumn. When harvesting sprouting broccoli, choose heads that are still in bud, rather than open flowers. Cut through the stems with a sharp knife just below the individual heads, then ideally cook them straight away.