Organic Broccoli – ROMANESCO OTTOBRINO
Romanesco Broccoli (also listed under Cauliflower) are a fantastic variety from Italy, producing stunning yellow green heads of spiral rosettes with an excellent flavour visually that resemble a pine cone. Many Romanesco types are spring maturing but this is rare one that comes ready in the autumn (Oct-Nov), thus avoiding the need to overwinter it.
Cultivation Advice Organic Broccoli – ROMANESCO OTTOBRINO
- Start indoors in a warm, well-lighted area from early March through June for the earliest of crops. Sow seeds ¼” deep in good compost. Keep evenly moist. Seedlings emerge in 5-8 days at 70º F. They do best covered lightly with soil. Alternatively sow directly outside from early April.
- Transplant seedlings by at least Mid-summer. They grow best at 55º to 65º F. Do not let seedling become more that 5 weeks old because older seedlings do not mature well transplanted.
- Set plants 18″ apart in rows 24″ apart. Transplant seedlings in late June for Oct – Nov head harvest.
- Water deeply once a week in dry weather. Cultivate or mulch to control weeds. High fertility and abundant supply of water throughout the growing season are important.
