Romanesco Broccoli

Sowing

Sow from mid-May to late June. Harvest from October to December.

It germinates at a temperature around 15°C (59°F) (minimum 7°C (44.6°F), maximum 20°C (68°F)). It takes about 14 days.

You can either sow directly in place or prepare seedlings that will be planted in their final position in the garden.

Preparing seedlings

You can sow in a greenhouse, or in a nursery in the garden for the rest of the year (according to the recommended sowing period). Sow the seeds at a depth of 1 to 2cm in good seed compost or fine soil. Lightly cover with compost. Keep the substrate moist but not waterlogged.

When the young plants appear strong enough to be handled, pot them up (if necessary) before transplanting them to the garden, when there is no longer any risk of frost. During planting, respect the recommended spacing for direct sowing.

Direct sowing

In properly amended and finely worked soil, create furrows about 1 to 2cm (1in) deep, spaced 60cm (24in) apart. Sow the seeds and cover them with a thin layer of fine soil. When the seedlings are well developed, thin them out, keeping only one plant every 60cm (24in).

Cultivation

Grow in full sun. It is a demanding vegetable that requires well-rotted, nitrogen-rich and potassium-rich soil. It is advisable to make a generous compost application (about 3/4 kg per m²) in autumn, by digging it in to a depth of 5cm (2in), after loosening the soil. Soil pH should be between 5.6 and 6.5. In acidic soil, care should be taken to gradually raise the pH by adding calcium in the form of dolomite or lime.