Calabrese Broccoli
Calabrese Broccoli is a heirloom brassica variety (Brassica oleracea var. italica 'Calabrese'). Harvest begins around day 60-90; seed germinates in 5-10 days. Set plants 12-18 inches apart. Grow in soil pH 6.0-7.0, zones 6-9, full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours). Plants reach 10-24 inches. It will crop in a container.
Sowing
Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost or direct sow in late summer for fall harvest. Transplant 2-3 weeks before last frost.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
- Water
- 1-1.5 inches per week, consistent moisture
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with high organic matter
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 12-18 inches
- Height
- 10-24 inches
- Season
- Cool season
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Blue-green to dark green
- Size
- 4-6 inches diameter
- Shape
- Dense, dome-shaped central head with tight florets
- Flavour
- Classic broccoli flavor, sweet and nutty with slight bitterness
In the kitchen
Steaming, roasting, stir-fries, raw in salads, blanching and freezing
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, cabbage loopers
- Diseases
- Clubroot, black rot, downy mildew, bacterial soft rot
- Resistance
- Moderate resistance to clubroot and black rot
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April – May | June – July | June – July | August – September |
| 2 | April – May | June – July | May – July | August – September |
| 3 | March – April | May – June | May – June | July – October |
| 4 | March – April | May – June | April – June | July – October |
| 5 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| 6 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| 7 | February – March | April – May | March – May | June – November |
| 8 | January – February | March – April | March – April | May – December |
| 9 | January | February – March | February – March | April – December |
| 10 | January | February – March | January – March | April – December |
| 11 | January | January – February | January – February | March – December |
| 12 | January | January – February | January – February | March – December |
| 13 | January | January – February | January – February | March – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 31
- Protein (g)
- 2.57
- Fat (g)
- 0.34
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 6.27
- Fibre (g)
- 2.4
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 8
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 91.3
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.15
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 102
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.191
- Folate (µg)
- 65
- Calcium (mg)
- 46
- Iron (mg)
- 0.69
- Magnesium (mg)
- 21
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 67
- Potassium (mg)
- 303
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.42
- Selenium (µg)
- 1.6
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Calabrese Broccoli?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other brassicas with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Calabrese Broccoli suits these too.
- Lacinato Kale 60 days
- Kale 'Winterbor F1' 60 days
- Radish 'Daikon 'Miyashige' 60 days
- Peppermint 60 days
- Collard Greens 'Georgia Southern' 60 days
- Red Trumpet 60 days