Waltham 29

Family: Brassicaceae Brassica

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Waltham 29 to a garden.

Fragrant, cool-sweet florets arrive in a steady wave—Waltham 29 forms a dense, medium-to-large head with a deep blue-green cast and a tightly buttoned texture that feels crisp and substantial in the garden.

Expect tender side shoots to follow the main harvest, extending the season with fresh, leafy flavor that shines in stir-fries, steaming, and quick sautés, or as a vibrant base for hearty soups and gratins. Grow Waltham 29 for reliable performance and a satisfying, garden-to-table abundance that keeps on coming through the cooler weeks.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Waltham 29 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 8th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Aug 2nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jul 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jul 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jul 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jul 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jun 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	Jun 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	Jun 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	May 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Apr 25th – 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	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

Waltham 29’s dense, tightly buttoned heads keep their structure—steam it briefly or roast hot and it won’t collapse into mush. The cool-sweet brassica flavor loves fatty, salty partners (butter/cheese/anchovy) and sharp lift (lemon) for a clean, crunchy bite.

Best Uses

steam-then-dress florets so they stay crisp under a squeeze of lemon or a slick of butter
quick sauté or hot wok toss for a char-kissed exterior and tender centers
broccoli cheddar–style gratin/gratin-style bake where the florets hold shape
broth-forward soups where the florets are added late for a springy texture

Flavor Profile

cool-sweet, vegetal brassica snap tightly buttoned florets with a crisp bite savory, lightly nutty finish when steamed or roasted

Kitchen Pairings

lemon butter olive oil Parmesan cheddar anchovy

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common broccoli pest or disease for Brassica oleracea var. italica, and how do I treat it?

Black rot (Xanthomonas) often starts as V-shaped yellowing at leaf edges and can spread through the plants, especially in warm, wet weather. Remove and discard infected heads/leaves below the damage, avoid overhead irrigation, and sanitize tools; if you’ve had black rot repeatedly, start with new transplants in clean beds. For pests, watch for cabbage worms (importantly the larvae of cabbage moths); hand-pick early and use a floating row cover to prevent egg laying.

How often should I water Waltham 29 during active head formation?

During the main growth and head-filling phase (roughly from when heads form until harvest), keep the soil consistently evenly moist—about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week total from rain plus irrigation. Water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone, then let the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil dry slightly before watering again to reduce disease pressure.

How can I tell when Waltham 29 is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the central head is fully formed and the individual flower buds are still tightly closed (green to dark green), before they loosen or begin to yellow. If the head is starting to separate into visible, loosening buds, it’s already past prime. Cut the main head with 5–7 inches (12–18 cm) of stem; this Brassica oleracea var. italica type often produces smaller side shoots afterward.