Purple sprouting broccoli all leaves and no broccoli! What did I do wrong?

[DarkBlueEyes]

I'm in a new garden so not sure about the soil, but I topped up the raised beds with organic farmyard manure and planted purple sprouting broccoli seedlings. They have done really well, lots of growth although they have been munched by what I now think are white butterflies... However, it's all mouth and no trousers in the broccoli patch! Not ONE bit of edible broccoli has appeared. Could it be too much nitrogen in the soil? The white butterflies eating it? I'm stumped. My lettuces have done well, peas not so much but beans doing well. Beetroot have been eaten by snails (took me a while to catch on), potatoes doing well and what I now know to be jerusalem artichokes are like triffids.

Any ideas for next year after my massive garden redesign and revamp when I will be planting in new soil?

[Ifailed]

when did you plant them? Purple sprouting usually crops in winter/early spring, so you've probably got a bit of a wait!

[DarkBlueEyes]

Ah! Right, maybe it's worth trying to keep the white butterflies at bay then. My father used to use white powder you shake over the plants, I wonder if you can still get this?

[Ifailed]

if you can, net them, otherwise, I'm afraid you'll have to squish the caterpillars .

[Sadik]

For future years, if you want your broccoli in the summer, look for calabrese types, rather than purple sprouting - they crop the same year they're planted. You'll have lots of PSB next April/May time though, providing you keep the caterpillars at bay :)

[DarkBlueEyes]

Bleaughhhh. I remembered, it was called Derris Dust! Anyway I've ordered some pyrethrum dust and will look for caterpillars (and a butterfly net!). Thanks all, I was about to rip it out!

[Ifailed]

good luck, it will be worth it, like all veg the taste of fresh-from-the-garden always beats anything bought, and when it's cold and chilly there's something very satisfying about going out and cutting just what you need and steaming it straight away. Add lots of butter!

[Sooverthis]

Purple sprouting is my fave veg to grow but as others have said it's an April/May crop that grows all winter I plant in about October I'm thinking of planting some now to see what happens keep us updated as to when yours crops please.