Green Calabrese Broccoli, Heirloom Seeds

Green Calabrese Broccoli — The Very Frost-Tolerant Italian Heirloom That Produces for 6 Months and Just Keeps Coming

The mainstay of serious broccoli gardens, Green Calabrese (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is an Italian early green sprouting heirloom that produces large heads of tender green sprouts — and then keeps going. Start it early in the season and by early summer you’ll have tons of sweet broccoli. Cut the central head, then lay the plant over on its side for an explosion of side shoots that will just keep coming until the heat of summer. In relatively cool areas, this one crop may continue to produce for 6 months or longer. No fall crop needed — just keep it trimmed and enjoy the rewards. Very frost-tolerant. 60–90 days.

The 1947 Pike Seed Company said it best: “Italian early Green Sprouting, producing large heads of tender green sprouts.”

Why Grow Green Calabrese?

• Very frost-tolerant — one of the hardiest broccoli varieties available
• Up to 6 months of production — in cool areas, one planting keeps producing all season
• Large 3–6 inch dark green heads — richly flavored, far superior to store-bought
• Side shoot explosion trick — lay the plant on its side after the main harvest for a massive flush of shoots
• Italian heirloom pedigree — documented since at least 1947; a true garden classic
• Excellent for microgreens — harvest at the micro-leaf stage for a tender, nutrient-dense superfood
• Open-pollinated heirloom — save seed year after year

Growing Notes

Start 4–6 weeks before the last frost indoors, or direct sow in late summer for a fall crop. Transplant outdoors when seedlings are 4–6 inches tall, spacing 18–24 inches apart in full sun. Water consistently and deeply. Harvest the main head when tight and firm, before flowers open. After harvest, lay the plant on its side — this triggers an explosion of side shoots for a continuous extended harvest. In cool areas, a single planting can produce for 6 months or longer without replanting.

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden’s success.