My purple sprouting broccoli is still pumping out, must be all the rain we are having. And this year or rather next years plants have germinated, yeah. The packet of seeds from Wilco only cost 54p, so no excuses not to grow it. Find a patch and plant out in June, ready the following year in March, April and May. Gardening requires some degree of patience! After a fairly sparse couple of months on the leafy veg front, the start of the purple sprouting broccoli season marks a welcome addition to the winter vegetable palate. Simply steamed or boiled, it partners almost any fish or meat dish. I eat with Sunday lunch, something to look forward to. HISTORY Purple sprouting broccoli was initially cultivated by the Romans. Broccoli has been grown in the UK since the early 18th century, although the purple sprouting variety has only risen to prominence in the last 30 years. BIOLOGY Broccoli is a cruciferous plant, in the same family as the cabbage, and is closely related to the