Piracicaba

Family: Brassicaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Fragrant, cool-green florets of Piracicaba arrive with a tender, finely textured bite and a tight, cathedral-like head that holds its color beautifully through the season.

Expect a sweet, mild broccoli flavor with a crisp, succulent texture—ideal for roasting, steaming, and quick stir-fries, and also wonderful in fresh salads and vibrant sauces. With about 60 days to maturity, this warm-season grower rewards home gardeners with dependable, market-ready heads and a satisfying garden-to-table harvest rhythm.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Piracicaba 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	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
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)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Piracicaba’s tight head and finely textured bite keeps it crisp-tender instead of turning watery, so it shines in high-heat roasting and quick steam-sizzle. That sweet, mild brassica character plays beautifully with lemon, garlic, and salty cheese—no need to bury it in heavy flavors.

Best Uses

high-heat roasting until edges get lightly browned while centers stay crisp-tender
quick steam-then-sizzle (or blanch) for a clean, snappy salad texture
hot-and-fast stir-fry with a glossy sauce that clings to nubby florets
blending into a smooth-ish puree for soup or a bright, green pasta sauce

Flavor Profile

sweet, mild broccoli flavor crisp, finely tender florets cool-green, lightly vegetal bite holds bright color under heat

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic parmesan olive oil chili flakes sesame oil

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most often hits Brassica oleracea (Piracicaba) and how do I control it?

For Brassica oleracea, watch closely for clubroot and for cabbage worms/cabbage loopers that chew leaves. To prevent clubroot, avoid planting in the same spot and keep soil consistently evenly moist but not waterlogged; lime the bed if your pH is low. For caterpillars, inspect the undersides weekly and use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or cover with fine insect netting as soon as plants are established.

How often should I water Piracicaba during its main growing phase?

During active leaf growth, keep the soil surface slightly moist and water deeply when the top 1 inch starts to dry. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week total (from rain and irrigation), adjusting upward during warm spells and downward if nights stay cool and damp. Avoid letting the soil swing from very dry to soggy, which encourages disease and reduces leaf quality.

How can I tell when Piracicaba (Brassica oleracea) is ready to harvest?

Harvest around day 60 when heads are firm and reach their full size, or when the leaves have developed the expected thickness and color for your planting type. If you can press the head gently and it feels tightly packed (not loose or hollow), it’s usually ready. Harvest in the cool part of the day and don’t wait for overmaturity, which can lead to splitting or tougher texture.