Calabrese Green Sprouting

Family: Brassicaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Calabrese Green Sprouting to a garden.

Tender, sweet sprouting florets emerge in a cascade of deep green—lush to the eye and delightfully mild on the palate.

Calabrese Green Sprouting forms a sturdy, blue-green head that quickly gives way to abundant side shoots, each one crisp-tender with a fine, succulent bite. Ideal for gardeners who love repeat harvests, it shines in fresh salads and shines just as brightly when roasted, steamed, or folded into hearty sauces for weeknight abundance.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Calabrese Green Sprouting

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Calabrese Green Sprouting 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	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 18th	Aug 1st – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 12th	Jul 26th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 6th	Jul 20th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Apr 27th	Jul 11th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Apr 24th	Jul 8th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 18th	Jul 2nd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 13th	Jun 27th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 3rd	Jun 17th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Mar 25th	Jun 8th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 16th	May 30th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Feb 27th	May 13th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 2nd	Apr 18th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This Calabrese is built for repeat harvest eating: the sprouting florets stay crisp-tender and mild, so they hold up to heat without turning harsh or cabbagey. Use it hot with lemon and butter or fold it into a Parmesan-mustard sauce where its texture can still “read” between bites.

Best Uses

flash-steam or quick roast to keep the sprouting florets vivid and snappy
toss into salads where it needs a dressing-friendly crunch
fold into a thick, creamy cheese sauce or purée for a silky, vegetable-forward base
stir-fry just until the edges char and the centers stay sweet

Flavor Profile

sweet, mild broccoli nuttiness crisp-tender succulent bite in the side shoots pleasant grassy snap with a clean, not-bitter finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon parmesan olive oil butter mustard anchovy

Frequently Asked Questions

What disease is most likely on Calabrese (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and how do I treat it?

Watch for black rot, which shows as yellowing V-shaped leaf lesions that darken and spread, especially in cool, wet weather. Remove and destroy infected leaves immediately, avoid overhead watering, and improve airflow by spacing plants well. If it keeps spreading, rotate out of Brassicaceae beds for several years and consider an approved copper or biological fungicide labeled for brassicas in your area.

How often should I water Calabrese during the main growing phase?

During heading and sprout development, keep the soil evenly moist—aim for about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week depending on rainfall. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil (2–3 cm) starts to dry, rather than giving frequent light sprinklings that encourage shallow roots and stress. Consistent moisture helps prevent uneven sprouting and bitter-tasting florets.

How can I tell when Calabrese is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the main head is fully formed and tight, with flower buds still firm and green, before any yellow blossoms appear. After cutting the main head, continue harvesting the side shoots when they reach the size of your thumb and the buds are still tight. For most home plantings, this is around 75 days from sowing/transplanting, but head firmness is the true trigger.