Kitchen Garden Forum

I am going to try Calabrese for the first time this year.

Does it work in raised beds and if so, what sort of spacing should I use?

Any other tips?

What variety of Calabrese?

I've just sown another small batch of Green Magic which is a fast growing one. The spacing can be up to 18 ins. Larger spacing will normally give larger heads but a lot depends on the fertility and growing conditions. Yes - can be in raised beds if you have the space. I often intercrop them with quick growing lettuce like Little Gem.

The variety is Autumn Green and I also have a packet of Romanesco.

Others may correct me but I think the Autumn Green can be spaced around 15 - 18 ins apart, but the Romanesco form larger plants and need more spacing and take longer to mature. It's also more like a cauliflower.

I've always struggled with Romanesco. For quite a few years I've grown Marathon with great success, last year I also grew Ironman which I thought was even better. The suggested spacing is 2' but I grow them a little closer. I think you can grow them fairly close and only take the first central head then throw them away, if you want a second crop from the side shoots something nearer the standard spacing is probably better.

It would be a great shame if you have a variety of Calabrese that will give you side shoots as these are far more succulent than the main head.
These side shoots are more like the Original Italian Green Calabrese before the hybridizers got to work on Calabrese and IMHO ruined it!
JB.

Romanesco has never really caught on because it lacks flavour. It's a shame because it looks the part. And with hybrid broccoli, one big head and then that's it. I also prefer the old-fashioned Italian sort, which keeps going all summer — Green Sprouting, for instance.

Hi Felix,
Romanesco is noted for its fine delicate flavour so how you can denigrate it at a whim is beyond me.
I have seen it described as heaven on a plate. I wouldn't go quite that far but IMHO it is extremely tasty served with either a cheese sauce or a simple white sauce to compliment it.
It is quite difficult to grow but certainly worth the try.
JB.

Hello All,
I grew Romanesco last year and found it much easier than cauliflowers and just as good in cooking. I spaced the same as for Brussels but on our clay loam can get away with closer spacing than the text books, I.e 18 - 24 inches.

Hilary

I have never been able to grow Romanesco successfully but green magic and another one I cant remember the name of have done well on our plot.

I had six purple sprouting brocolli coming on very slowly in the last bed waiting to be dug over. My OH in his wisdom pulled three out because he thought they were dead I wasnt at the plot when he did it. I arrived shortly after he had done it. Mmmm I was not happy. So he put them back in the ground. Saying he thought they were finished. I said they had not even started. Anyway luckily he saved his bacon as they are now sprouting little shoots now we have had some warm sunshine. Hope to have some a few shoots for dinner tonight.