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Sowings after mid-spring are best made in their final position, as calabrese doesn’t transplant well in warm weather. You’ll see many crops, including calabrese and other brassicas, and can explore how they’re grown, compare the varieties and pick up useful tips and inspiration. Plant young calabrese deeper than they were previously growing, with the lowest leaves level with the surface, so they root in securely.
When the young calabrese plants are 10–15cm (4–6in) tall and have a well-formed rootball, move them outdoors – see Transplanting, below. Calabrese seeds are generally sown between February and June – indoors from late winter into mid-spring, then outdoors from mid-spring to early summer. The previous autumn, dig in two bucketfuls of well-rotted manure or garden compost per square metre/yard, to allow the ground time to settle over winter.If done closer to planting time, firm the soil really well by treading it down, shuffling back and forth over it, then rake it smooth. Calabrese should be grown in the same bed as its other cabbage relatives in crop rotations, to avoid any build-up of pests and diseases in the soil. Gardeners can add nutrients by applying fertilisers (either artificial or naturally derived) to boost plant growth and improve flowering and fruiting. A popular and tasty crop, calabrese produces large domed green heads up to 15cm (6in) across, for harvesting in summer and autumn. If your soil is very acidic, apply lime the previous winter to raise the pH and deter clubroot disease.
From April to June, you can sow calabrese seeds outdoors, either on a temporary basis in a seedbed (for transplanting later – see below) or straight into their final site if you have space. Growing calabrese from seedFrom February to April, you can start calabrese seeds off in a greenhouse or on a windowsill. If sowing in their final position, sow three seeds every 30cm (1ft) along the drill, then thin out each cluster of seedlings to leave just one at each point. Calabrese seeds are widely available from garden centres and online gardening retailers (although, confusingly, they are sometimes sold as broccoli).Calabrese is mainly sown in spring, either indoors or outside, and is ready to harvest in three or four months, from July to October, depending on the variety and sowing time. Delicious and versatile, calabrese is best lightly steamed or stir-fried and can be used in all kinds of dishes. Calabrese doesn’t transplant well in warm weather, making it prone to bolting (premature flowering), so after April it is best sown in its final position outdoors (see below). Once the main head starts to form, calabrese plants can become top-heavy, so pile soil up around the base of the stem to improve stability.
Larger varieties and those in exposed sites should be given additional support – insert a sturdy cane and tie in the main stem to hold it secure. Calabrese is a fast-growing brassica and needs little maintenance apart from weeding regularly and watering during dry spells. Broccoli plants (also known as sprouting broccoli) produce much smaller clusters of purple or white buds on the tips of leafy stems.The main head is ready to cut when 10–15cm (4–6in) across, well formed but still in bud, before the flowers begin to open.
Once they have a good root system, they should only need watering during dry spells, to avoid any check in their growth, which could cause them to bolt (flower prematurely). Calabrese is a member of the cabbage (brassica) family, so should be grown alongside its relatives in crop rotations and protected from the main brassica pests and diseases – see Problem solving, below. Covering the crop with fine-mesh netting, supported on a framework, will keep several pests at bay, including cabbage caterpillars and pigeons. Harden off indoor-sown plants first and take great care not to disturb the roots, so they continue growing strongly without any checks.It grows up to 60cm (2ft) tall and wide, forming a large central green head, which is a cluster of tightly packed flower buds. If you have clubroot disease in your soil, sow calabrese indoors so it can develop a good root system before being moved into the ground. To grow well, plants need a wide range of nutrients in various amounts, depending on the individual plant and its stage of growth. This pesto Calabrese recipe combines smoky charred peppers, soft ricotta , sun-dried tomatoes , creamy almonds and a healthy pinch of chilli flakes to create a wonderful sauce that can act as both a dip and a pasta sauce.
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