My broccoli was growing very well and I had to go out of town for a family emergency and was gone for 3 weeks. My non gardening husband and daughter were left to water and care for my plants. After I returned home everything was super dry. The automatic drip sprinkler was turned to low so my plants were dying of thirst, poor babies. Any who, my broccoli plant was beginning to flower. That has been 3 months ago and the broccoli plant is still growing side shoots and I have been letting them bloom hoping they would produce seeds. If I remember correctly, once the large head bolted it produced seeds and I was waiting for them to dry before collecting. The seeds blew away and the side shoots are now flowering but not making seeds. The side shoots are still growing but I thought once a plant bolted that the fruit was no longer edible. I just tried a little side shoot and it was very flavorful. I don't mean to ramble and I'm sorry if I lost you. To simply, I'll list my questions, I have several?
1. Is the fruit edible once the plant has bolted?
2. Will the side shoots produce seeds?
3. Can I trim all of the side shoots and flowers or will that kill the plant?
4. If I do trim the long flowering stems, will the side shoots continue to grow on that particular stem?
Many thanks!!!