Calabrese
Brassica oleracea var. italica
Calabrese (broccoli) produces a large central head of tightly-packed green buds, followed by smaller side-shoots after the main head is cut. It’s a cool-season brassica crop. Grow it in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil and keep plants watered during dry spells. Harvest the heads while firm, then leave the stem in the ground to allow side-shoots to develop.
Growing Guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing Calabrese
Planting Calendar
Growing Guide for
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
Growing Calabrese broccoli for a mid-summer harvest in the UK (sown in late winter or early spring).
1 Sow Seeds Indoors
Fill trays or modules with peat-free seed compost and sow 1–2 seeds about deep. Cover lightly with compost, water gently, and keep trays in a warm propagator or bright spot until seedlings appear.
2 Harden Off Seedlings
March in Allensford is a good time to start hardening off seedlings. Move the trays outside for a few hours each day and bring them back in at night. Increase the time outdoors gradually over about a week.
3 Transplant Outdoors
When all risk of frost has passed, plant out seedlings deeply into well-prepared soil. Bury each plant up to its top leaves to encourage strong roots. Space plants about apart in rows with the same spacing between rows. Firm in well and water thoroughly.
4 Water and Protect
After planting out, keep soil moist by watering regularly (especially during dry weather). Scatter crushed eggshells or grit around each plant to deter slugs, and cover plants with horticultural fleece or netting if pigeons or caterpillars become a problem.
5 Fertilise
About 3–4 weeks after planting out, feed the plants with a general or comfrey fertiliser. Repeat feeding every 4–6 weeks to promote vigorous growth and good head development.
6 Harvest Main Head
When the main head is large, firm and the florets are still tightly closed, cut it off with a sharp knife. Do not pull the plant up; the remaining stem will produce smaller side-shoots for later harvest.
Related Plants
Explore similar plants you might like
Basil
Basil is a fragrant, tender herb whose leaves are a staple of summer cooking. Native to tropical regions, basil is treated as an annual in temperate climates like the UK because it cannot tolerate frost. It thrives in warm, sunny conditions and can be grown in garden beds or pots for a steady supply of fresh, flavourful leaves throughout the summer.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a hardy winter brassica (cabbage family) that form sturdy, leafy stems often around 60–90cm tall. They produce edible mini-cabbage buds along the stem from autumn through winter. Thanks to their cold tolerance, sprouts remain productive into late winter, and frost actually improves their sweetness.
Chilli Pepper
Chilli peppers are half-hardy annuals that produce an abundance of spicy, colourful fruits in warm conditions. They originate from tropical regions of the Americas and need a long growing season and plenty of heat to ripen their pods in the UK. Plants stay relatively compact (often 30–60cm tall) and grow well in containers or sheltered beds. There are countless varieties ranging from mild to extremely hot (measured in Scoville Heat Units), but all need sunshine and warmth to thrive.