Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Is broccolini the same plant as broccoli just picked early or is there a specific type of broccoli that produces the small heads and long stems?

There are many types or varieties of broccoli. I don't know broccolini so I'm not really sure in this case. I do know there is a mini broccoli and I do know that if you cut the main head off most broccoli it will produce smaller side shoots with smaller heads or often just single florets. Keep in mind that Broccoli is in the species Brassica oleracea which is also the same species as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, collards, kohlrabi. There are also broccoli like plants that are not even in the Brassica oleracea species, Broccoli Raab for instance is actually Brassica rapa (same as radish and turnip.)

Don't know if this helps but I always thought it was interesting that such different veggies are all the same species.

Cool, thanks Sleepe, the tag I have also states that it is licensed to Perfection Fresh Australia PTY LTD as stated in wikki. Now I just have to find where yo buy it, I have been looking out for it and never seen seeds or seedlings available in any of the retail stores or nurserys.

Brocollini I have grown is an asian vegetable. As far as I know it is not related to (or at least closely) to brocolli. It is suited to a warm climate and grows fairly quickly. I grew some from seedlings I bought from Bunnings but it was a bit "stringy"when I cooked it. Pretty sure it's a different plant, just looks similar when flowering. Good summer plant, or winter for the tropics....

Burnsy

Couldn't get broccolini but bought broccoli "baby bunting" from Mazzega's today. Unfortunately they do not give the scientific name, other thing it says is suitable for summer and autumn harvests
Will give it a go anyway.

ive got baby bunting in , found that it took a long time to flower but may be my own ineptittude, now that its started i can pick a feed at least once a week ( think its 6 plants )

CHeers
pete

Hi everyone

what your after is sprouting broccoli otherwise known as broccolini
and i found the seeds in the local $2 shop for less than $2 a packet

happy seed hunting

Was on the understanding that it was chisese brocolli/kai-lan.

Time to bring this back to life. I have been growing a fair amount of baby bunting at school and some of it ives heads similar to shop bought broccolini but I am not convinced it is the same, most just makes full heads of broccoli, just small ones.

Has anyone found any more information on where you can get true brocollini (as described in wiki) seed from?

Cheers,
Mike

I think its a cross between Chinese Broccoli and Italian sprouting broccoli and has a copyright.
I have been searching for years,they talked about it on Gardening Australia I asked in there fact sheet bit where to get it they said good luck.
You would need to source it of a grower in Werribbee or some other market garden region that grows it.
I would imagine its illegal to sell to the public or it would be every where.
I have a mate who grows copy righted strawberries
He signs a contract to say he wont replant of the runners
They will DNA test them if he does and sue.
Welcome to the future of agriculture

Maybe plant Italian Sprouting and Gai Lan and cross pollinate and collect the seeds and sell them.