Calabrese

Family: Brassicaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Sink your senses into Calabrese’s rich, blue-green florets—dense, finely textured heads that feel almost velvety at first glance.

With its steady, upright growth and reliable 70-day maturity, this variety delivers a sweet, tender bite and a satisfying snap, followed by flavorful side shoots for an extended harvest window. Ideal for roasting, steaming, and fresh florets in salads, Calabrese also shines in hearty sauces and quick pickles when you want its color and character to stay bright.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Calabrese 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 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Calabrese hits that sweet spot where the florets are tender but still hold a real snap—so it tastes good even when you don’t drown it in sauce. Use high heat or fast pickling to keep the blue-green character vivid and the flavor bright instead of turning sulfur-y.

Best Uses

hot-roasting until the florets bronze at the tips while the centers stay sweet
steaming and finishing with lemon and olive oil for a clean, snappy mouthfeel
quick-pickling for bright color and a tangy, crunchy counterpoint
tossing into a thick, cheesy gratin-style sauce where it stays structured

Flavor Profile

sweet, mineral-leaning brassica bite fine, tender floret texture crisp snap with a lightly grassy finish brilliant, slightly peppery edge

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil parmesan bacon anchovy chili flakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Calabrese (Brassica oleracea var. italica), and how do I treat it?

Black rot and other Brassica leaf rots can show up as yellow V-shaped spots starting at leaf edges, often followed by dark, spreading lesions. Remove and discard affected leaves, avoid wetting the foliage, and don’t reuse infected plant debris—rotate Brassicas away from the bed for at least 3 years. For pests, watch for cabbage worms and check undersides of leaves; pick off early larvae and apply an appropriate BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) treatment when small caterpillars are present.

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

During head development (roughly mid-season until harvest), keep the soil consistently evenly moist, not waterlogged—aim for about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week depending on rainfall. Water deeply at the base to prevent leaf wetness, and adjust to maintain steady moisture because uneven drying can lead to loose heads. Mulch after plants are established to reduce moisture swings, which are especially harmful for Brassica heads.

How can I tell when Calabrese is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the central head is tight and compact with florets still firm and dark green, before any noticeable yellowing or flowering opens. The head should be about 4–7 inches across (varies by plant), and you’ll typically see side shoots forming right after the main cut. Cut the central head with a sharp knife and leave several inches of stem; the plant will produce side shoots for additional harvests over the following weeks.