Fioretto 85

Family: Brassicaceae Brassica

Fioretto 85 broccolini opens with a crisp, sweet-green tenderness and a gentle, broccoli-like perfume that feels bright and clean from the first bite.

Expect slender, well-branched spears with tight, velvety florets and a pleasantly snappy texture—ideal for quick roasting, fresh tossing, and turning into silky sauces or pickled accents that keep their lively color. At about 55 days, this variety rewards home gardeners with an elegant harvest rhythm and consistently uniform, garden-fresh flavor.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Upright

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	40
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Fioretto 85’s slender spears and tight florets are built for speed: they go from crisp to gently yielding without turning mushy, and the sweetness holds up under hot roasting. The flavor leans bright and clean, so it loves lemon, garlic, and fats like olive oil or yogurt—no heavy sweetness needed.

Best Uses

quick high-heat roast until edges brown but stems stay snappy
blanch-and-toss with olive oil and lemon for a vivid hot side
charred-spears on a yogurt tahini or lemony garlic sauce
fast pickling for punchy, crunchy florets

Flavor Profile

crisp sweet-green tenderness gentle broccoli perfume snappy, tender florets that stay crisp-hot clean, bright finish with light brassica bite

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic olive oil parmesan chili flakes yogurt

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common disease pest issue for Brassica oleracea var. italica (Fioretto 85), and what should I do?

Watch for cabbage loopers and imported cabbageworm, which chew ragged holes in florets and leaves. Hand-pick larvae early, then spray Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) according to label directions every 5–7 days while caterpillars are active. Also remove heavily infested leaves to reduce repeat attacks; Brassicas are particularly vulnerable during warm spells.

How often should I water Brassica oleracea var. italica during its main growth to keep it from stressing?

Keep the soil evenly moist from planting until heads/curds fill in, usually about 1–1.5 inches of water per week total depending on weather. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil dries out, not on a strict daily schedule, because uneven moisture can lead to loose, poor curds. In hot weather, check moisture more often to prevent the soil from drying out between waterings.

How can I tell when Fioretto 85 (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the curds are firm and tightly formed but still compact—typically around 55 days from sowing/transplanting as your seed packet indicates. If you see yellowing flowers starting to open, it’s past prime and will turn bitter and more fibrous. Cut the main curd with a short stem in the cool part of the day, and expect some side shoots to develop after cutting.