Belstar

Family: Brassicaceae Brassica

Planting Schedule

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Belstar brings a dense, velvety crown of deep blue-green florets with a crisp, succulent bite and a sweet, garden-fresh flavor.

The heads form with an inviting domed silhouette and fine texture that holds beautifully for standout side dishes, stir-fries, and quick blanch-and-freeze convenience. Grow Belstar for reliable, uniform harvests around 60 days and enjoy the satisfying rhythm of abundant florets from a well-branched plant.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Heading

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Belstar Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	May 4th	May 25th	Jul 24th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 18th	Jul 17th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 7th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 7th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 12th	Jul 11th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 7th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 6th	Jul 5th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jun 30th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Apr 27th	Jun 26th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Apr 24th	Jun 23rd – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 18th	Jun 17th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 13th	Jun 12th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 3rd	Jun 2nd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Mar 25th	May 24th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 16th	May 15th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Feb 27th	Apr 28th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 2nd	Apr 3rd – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Heading
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Belstar’s dense, fine florets hold shape under heat, so you get that crisp-succulent bite instead of mush. It’s sweet-forward with a mild brassica edge—aim for hot, fast cooking or a quick roast so the florets stay emerald and the caramelized edges do the talking.

Best Uses

quick blanch-and-ice for crisp-tender salads
high-heat stir-fries where florets stay green and snappy
roasting until charred at the edges while the centers stay tender
creamy gratin or cheese sauce where fine florets disappear into silkiness

Flavor Profile

sweet, garden-fresh broccoli flavor crisp, succulent bite fine, velvety floret texture gentle bitterness that turns silky when cooked right

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic parmesan olive oil soy sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage botrytis (gray mold) on Belstar during cool, wet weather?

Belstar (a salad-type brassica) is prone to gray, fuzzy mold on leaves and stems when days are cool and humidity stays high. Remove and discard affected leaves immediately, improve airflow by spacing plants and thinning if needed, and avoid watering the foliage—water at the base only. If it keeps spreading, apply an approved fungicide labeled for edible brassicas and follow the label re-entry and reapplication intervals.

How often should I water Belstar during the 60-day growing phase to prevent bolting and keep heads/tender growth crisp?

During the main growth period (about weeks 3–6), keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged—about 1 inch per week total, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Water deeply 1–2 times per week so the top 2–3 inches stay moist, and reduce frequency if the soil is still wet after a day. Letting it swing from dry to soggy can stress Belstar and increase bolting risk.

When is Belstar ready to harvest, and how can I tell without guessing?

Belstar is typically ready at about 60 days from sowing, when plants reach the mature size listed on your seed packet and leaves look fully developed (not small or overly tender). Harvest when heads/center are firm and nicely filled out, or for leaf types when outer leaves are large and crisp enough to eat. For best quality, harvest in the morning and stop once plants start to send up taller flowering stems.