Calabrese Broccoli
Item Details
This historic and delicious variety dates back to the 1880s, when it was brought to America by Italian immigrants. Tight heads can grow up to 8" in diameter. After the central head is harvested, many side shoots will form, and they can be harvested right up to frost.
- 58-90 days from transplant
- ±8,900 seeds/oz
- Organic
- Dark green
- Heads grow to 8 inches
- Side shoots or sprouts form after the central head is harvested
This variety works for:
- Fresh eating
- Steaming
- Boiling
- Baking
- Soup
- Freezing
Broccoli can be served fresh as an appetizer with dip or hummus, or tossed in a cold salad. Use fresh broccoli to top your pizzas or toss it in with an egg custard with sautéed bacon and onions for a quiche.
You can roast your broccoli with lemon and parmesan or add it to a casserole like oven-baked macaroni and cheese. The stems, which can be tough, work well for broccoli soup once they are peeled and cooked.
Growing Instructions
Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Plant out just before the last frost. Broccoli prefers cool temperatures and a regular supply of water. In many regions it can be grown as both a spring and fall crop.
- Start Indoors: 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Germination: 3-10 Days
- Plant Outdoors: 24” Apart
- Light: Full Sun
Ratings & Reviews
4 reviews
Good taste
by Roger
The flavor of this broccoli is really good but the heads are smaller than the hybrids that I have grown.
Great Germination!
by Greg
I had 100% germination in 3 days with 16 seeds planted indoors using a heat mat.
Twice a year , every year
by Anthony
Direct sowed 8/1 in central Massachusetts. Did wonderful right up until our 1st real snow in mid November . Growing spring and fall this year and every year from now on as long as we can garden. The heads are delicious , the leaves and stalk are great too. What we froze was great.
organic vs hybrid broccoli
by Noel
I started these seeds in my Central FL greenhouse and had good germ rate. This was my first time growing broccoli and experimented with Organic and Hybrid broccoli. These organic plants grew slower then the hybrids and had smaller heads of broccoli. Overall I would not grow this organic broccoli again and would stick to a hybrid.