yes it is time if they losen to much they will bolt

ok, I guess broccoli is on the menu tonight, I was hoping to have larger heads. Does any one know which variety forms the largest heads for next year? Also should I leave the side shouts that are starting to form or pick them as well?

I would have picked the broccoli 5 days ago. By the picture, it is starting to flower.

I would also take the side shoots i think people call the brocloni or somthing like that i am pretty sure i spelled it wrong lol

Shirley is correct. It is flowering. It will taste bitter.

I've picked broccoli that looked like that and it wasn't bitter, but I wouldn't let it go any longer.

I steamed the looses head last night and it was not bitter at all. Next time I will have to harvest a few days earlier like suggested above, live and learn. I am going to plant a late broccoli crop in July so I will have to pay better attention. We had a week of very warm weather and I am sure that speed the head formation a little to quickly.

I always have the best luck with a late crop. I like to start mine in July so they will be forming heads in cool weather. I think they form larger tighter heads that way.
Good luck

Good to hear, I am hoping for a better crop in the fall. The spring crop of broccoli grew like a rocket, I think it took about 40 days. I used transplants from the nursery because I had just built my raised beds and had no time to start my own. Next year I will select my own varieties, one better suited for spring and one that is better suited for fall.

I agree with bigger heads in the fall. Harvest heads once they get the least bit "spongy" to the touch. Beware of store bought transplants, if they have experienced any stress (such as drying out, root bound, old, etc) those plants are very prone to buttoning-up (produce very small heads). Best transplants to buy are the smallest or youngest of the bunch.