Calabrese Broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italica 'Calabrese'
vegetableCalabrese is the classic Italian green broccoli, producing a large blue-green central head followed by a steady supply of smaller side shoots after the main head is cut. A cool-season brassica maturing in about 60 to 90 days, it is the standard home-garden broccoli, valued for the long secondary harvest that can continue for weeks.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 3 days
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Harvest
~65 days
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Difficulty
medium
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Lifecycle
biennial
Leaves year 1, flowers year 2
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Spacing
18 in. apart
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Planting Depth
1/4-1/2 in.
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Firm, well-drained
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
About 3 weeks after transplant, then every 3-4 weeks
Fertilizer
Nitrogen-rich (21-0-0 or fish emulsion)
🌱 Growing Guide
Start seed indoors and transplant, or direct sow, timing the crop for cool weather in spring or fall, in full sun and fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Keep moisture even and feed for steady growth, since heat and stress cause the heads to open and flower prematurely; a fall crop maturing in cooling weather is usually the highest quality.
Planting Calendar
Sign in to personalize →spring planting
🌱
Start seeds indoors
Feb 11
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Transplant outdoors
Mar 25
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Projected first harvest
May 29
fall planting
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Start seeds indoors
Jun 30
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Transplant outdoors
Aug 4
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Projected first harvest
Oct 8
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Dill: Attracts parasitic wasps and ladybugs that hunt cabbage pests
- Sweet Alyssum: Draws hoverflies whose larvae eat aphids
- Nasturtium: Trap crop for aphids and cabbage pests
- Chamomile: Aromatic herb said to improve growth and deter pests
❌ Keep away from
TomatoesPeppersStrawberries
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Cover with floating row cover from transplant to exclude the white cabbage butterfly; hand-pick green caterpillars; spray Bt if needed
Plant alyssum and dill to draw hoverflies and lacewings; blast colonies off with water
Row cover on young plants
🌾 Harvest & storage
Cut the central head while the buds are still tight and deep green, before any yellow flowers open, taking several inches of stem. Cutting the main head prompts the plant to produce smaller side shoots from the leaf axils, which can be picked every few days for several more weeks.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Broccoli is low in calories and very high in vitamins C and K, with folate, fiber, and sulforaphane, a glucosinolate-derived compound widely studied for its anticancer potential.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.