Green Macerata Italian Heirloom Cauliflower Seeds

Bring fresh color to your vegetable patch and dinner plate with Green Macerata. This Italian heirloom cauliflower forms compact apple- to lime-green heads with a mild, pleasant flavor. Serve the tender florets raw on a vegetable tray, lightly steam them as a side dish, or add them to your favorite cauliflower recipes. The naturally green curds do not need blanching in the garden to keep them white.

Why Grow Green Macerata?

• Distinctive green heads: Rounded, clustered curds offer a colorful alternative to white cauliflower.
• Mild flavor: Enjoy fresh florets in salads or cook them gently to highlight their tender texture.
• No whitening step: There is no need to tie leaves over the head to produce a white curd; steady moisture and suitable temperatures still matter.
• Italian heirloom: An open-pollinated variety also known as Verde di Macerata.

Planting and Growing

Start seeds indoors about 4–6 weeks before your intended transplant date. Sow 1/4–1/2 inch deep and keep evenly moist; germination commonly takes 7–10 days under suitable conditions. Harden seedlings gradually before planting out. Time spring or fall crops so heads develop in cool, mild weather rather than intense summer heat.

Choose full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Space plants approximately 18–24 inches apart. For square foot gardening, allow 1 plant per 4 sq ft, giving the broad wrapper leaves room to spread. Feed according to soil needs and maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging. Mulch can help reduce drying and moisture swings.

Protect seedlings from cabbage worms, flea beetles, and aphids. Heat, drought, and interrupted growth can reduce head quality. Established plants tolerate some light frost, but seedlings and developing heads may need protection; cold tolerance is not a guarantee of overwintering.

Harvest Details

Head color: Apple- to lime-green.
Head size: Compact, sometimes around 2 lb under favorable conditions; actual size varies.
Harvest timing: Harvest when heads are full and firm, before the curds loosen or separate. Timing varies with seed selection, weather, and growing conditions.
Flavor and uses: Mild; fresh salads, vegetable trays, light steaming, and other cauliflower dishes.
Seeds per packet: Approximately 100+ seeds, as listed in the packet option.
Seed type: Heirloom and open-pollinated.
Life cycle: Biennial grown as an annual vegetable crop.
Botanical name: Brassica oleracea (Botrytis Group).

Cut the head with a few wrapper leaves attached. Refrigerate promptly and wash before preparing. Avoid prolonged cooking if you want to retain the best green color and tender texture.

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