Here’s a gardening question about growing and harvesting broccoli that was sent in by Joyce from Inman, Kansas: “I started broccoli plants in the spring and they are now sprouting and not forming heads. From what I have read, fall broccoli is the best. Can I keep these plants alive until I want to produce in the fall, or do I need to plant again?

As promised in the recent entry on browsing heirloom seed catalogs I intend to share some of the interesting plants that I stumble across in my favorite seed catalogs. Here’s the first new and unusual vegetable variety that I plan to grow in the garden this year; Purple Peacock Broccoli.

This year’s crop of fall-grown broccoli is looking very, very good! Yes, I’m welcoming in the month of December by harvesting an impressive crop of large heads of nutritious broccoli from the fall vegetable garden. This autumn season was ideal for growing terrific broccoli.

Leaf Broccoli, also known as Spigariello, is an unusual vegetable that’s popular in various parts of Italy where it goes by the name of Cima di rape Spigarello or Cavolo Broccolo Spigariello. Practically unknown here in the U.S., you won’t find Leaf Broccoli growing in many backyard gardens or offered for sale at your local market.