Planted 4 purple sprouting , variety Claret, last year. One produced broccoli in April/May this year as expected , the others are massive plants with lots of leaves but no broccoli. Any thoughts?
If all else fails, eat the leaves! According to the article below, they can be sautéed, stir fried or added to soups. This article also gives reasons why the other plants did not produce.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/broccoli-not-forming-heads.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/how-to-grow-broccoli.htm
I am a beginning harder; I sprayed all my plants with a baking soda, oil and dish soap solution. It appears to have harmed my broccoli, cabbage and spinach. There appeared white spots, Which I thought was residue, on the foliage. Should I be concerned? The tomato plant, which had signs of early blight, did not respond this way.
Some solutions leave residue but your picture was taken too far away from the plants and was not clear. I am not a vegetable gardener but baking soda solutions may add sodium (the harmful component of salt) and reduce B1 vitamins. I think it was once used to maintain color in some vegetables. Now it is used to combat powdery mildew (a PM alternative: you can use 40% milk + 60% water spray solution instead).
never grew broccoli before. See attached photo
Keep letting it grow until it forms heads. Here is an article that will help you with the care of Broccoli:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/growing-broccoli-in-pots.htm
You talk about growing broccoli and saving the seeds. I do not yet have an outside garden. I want to grow broccoli sprouts without buying the seeds. If I take a head from the market and keep it in my fridge until it turns yellow can I use those seeds to sprout if I follow your advice to then hang the head upside down once they have turned yellow?
No. You will not be able to grow from an established plant, unfortunately.
This collection of articles will offer more information on broccoli:
I found some white powdery like stuff under the leaves and the florets of my purple sprouting/broccoli have an odd shape. They look bigger than the normal heads. What would be the best way to get rid of this disease?
Unfortunately, your photos did not come through. I will be unable to diagnose your issue. Generally, diseases will come from overly wet soils, or insects. I would look to those issues, first.
Plant diseases cannot spread to humans. It will be safe to consume the plants, but they may not taste good.
This article will help you to care for broccoli plants:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/how-to-grow-broccoli.htm
We had heads one day and then ravaged over night. Then the leaves started disappearing. I have not found a worm or anything leaving a trail. No partial leaves on the ground, nothing. I had 6 buckets with beautiful plants until they ravaged.
Unfortunately, unless you catch the critter in the act, or see signs of what it could be- It could be just about anything. Mammals, insects, birds, and just about everything will much on these leaves.
Until you do find signs of what may be eating your plants, these articles will offer some help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/animals
the dirt. How can I save the plants and make them healthy? The plants were from Joliet Jr. College and looked healthy when I planted them. In the past years, broccoli grew well in my garden.
Unfortunately, your photos did not come through. I would suspect that some insect is munching on your leaves. These collections of articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/how-to-grow-broccoli.htm