Green Sprouting Calabrese is a classic heirloom broccoli variety prized for its tender shoots, flavorful florets, and dependable production. This Mediterranean heirloom produces beautiful deep green heads and side shoots over an extended harvest period, making it a favorite for home gardens and market growers alike.
The mild slightly earthy flavor becomes wonderfully sweet and tender when cooked. Green Sprouting Calabrese is excellent for steaming, roasting, stir-fries, soups, casseroles, salads, and fresh garden meals. Frequent harvesting encourages continuous side shoot production for long-lasting harvests throughout the growing season.
This hardy cool-season crop thrives in fertile well-drained soil with regular moisture and full sun. Its cold tolerance and vigorous growth make it ideal for both spring and fall planting in home gardens, homesteads, and market gardens.
Green Sprouting Calabrese Seed Details
- Quantity: 50 Seeds
- Plant Type: Heirloom Sprouting Broccoli
- Head Color: Deep Green
- Flavor: Mild Earthy Sweet Flavor
- Growth Habit: Upright and Productive
- Seed Planting Depth: 1/4 Inch
- Germination Temperature: 55-70°F
- Days to Germination: 5-10 Days
- Row Spacing: 24 Inches
- Plant Spacing: 15-18 Inches
- 100' Row Yield: 45 Pounds
- Sun Requirements: Full Sun
- Cool Weather Crop: Yes
- Ideal Uses: Steaming, Roasting, Stir-Fries, Soups, Salads, Casseroles, Market Gardens, Homesteads
How to Save Seeds
Broccoli will readily cross pollinate with other members of the Brassica oleracea family including cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and brussels sprouts, so separate varieties by at least 1 mile for maintaining seed purity.
Broccoli is a biennial plant and requires overwintering before producing seeds. Leave healthy plants in the garden over winter and protect them with mulch in colder climates if necessary.
During the second growing season the remaining heads will begin producing flower stalks followed by seed pods. Allow the pods to mature and dry naturally on the plant before harvesting.
Harvest seed pods once they begin drying but before they split open naturally. Finish drying indoors if needed, then separate the seeds from the pods and store them in a cool dry location inside labeled envelopes or airtight containers.
