Broccoli / Cauliflower – Romanesco

Native to northern Italy, romanesco is somewhere between broccoli and cauliflower. It is referred to as a pretty lime green broccoli with pointed heads on a cauliflower-like plant or as an apple-green cauliflower with a light nutty taste… that looks like broccoli! Delicious in raw vegetables, try it roasted or steamed.

Growing tips

Conditions of germination:

depth of sowing: 5 mm

optimal temperatures of germination: 10 to 30 ºC

time for germination: 7 to 14 days

When to sow:

sow indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date in your area for an early harvest OR

direct sowing after any risk of frost (around mid-June) for a fall harvest

Sowing technique: in pocket

Inside the same hole, sow 3 to 5 seeds spaced 1 to 2 cm apart; when the seeds have germinated and the seedlings have reached a height of 5 cm, keep all the plants if space is available or keep only the best plants.

for indoor seedlings: harden off the plants outdoors before transplanting them into the garden

for direct seedlings: thin the plants for their final location in the garden

Transplanting outdoors (for indoor seedlings):

When all risk of frost has been eliminated

Distance in the garden:

between plants: 60 to 75 cm

between rows: 60 to 90 cm

Height of the plants: 60 to 90 cm

Soil: rich and well drained

Exposure: full sun

Harvest time (after transplanting): 80 to 90 days

Specificity:

Harvest when the heads are firm and apple-green in color.

QUICK STATS

Number of seeds: ±75

Difficulty: Medium

Type: Heirloom / Open pollinated

Lifecycle:Annual

Additional information

Weight            1 g

Difficulty         

Medium

Sowing          

Direct, Indoor

Lifecycle        

Annual

Root cellar     

No

Sowing season        

Spring, Summer