Crops › Calabrese
How to grow Calabrese
in the UK
Sow March to June, harvest June to October. About 80 days from seed to plate.
Calabrese, or sprouting broccoli as some call it, is a cracking veg to grow on the allotment. It's dead easy, to be honest, and gives you a proper good harvest of those lovely green florets. You get the main head, then side shoots keep coming, so it's a gift that keeps on giving, you know what I mean.
Sowing
You can start your calabrese seeds off from March right through to June, which is cracking for getting a long harvest. Sow them thinly, about 1.5 cm deep, in trays on a windowsill or in the greenhouse, or direct outside if the weather's warmed up a bit after the last frost. For a steady supply, sow a small batch every few weeks – that's what we call successional sowing, and it really works. They'll be ready for harvesting in about 80 days, so plan ahead.
Growing on
Once your seedlings have two proper leaves, you'll want to prick them out into individual pots. Let them grow on a bit, then harden them off for a week or two outside before planting them out on the plot. Down here in the North East, that's usually mid to late May, mind. Give them about 45 cm between plants, and 60 cm between rows, they need space to grow big and strong.
Looking after it
Calabrese likes a good drink, especially when it's dry and they're forming heads, so keep them well-watered. A bit of general-purpose feed now and then won't hurt, but good soil is usually enough. Mulching around the plants helps keep the moisture in and the weeds down, like I say, saves you a job.
What goes wrong
The main trouble you'll get is from the cabbage white butterflies, their caterpillars can munch through leaves proper quick. Netting is your best bet, or you can check under the leaves for eggs. Aphids can be a pest too, a strong spray of water or some soapy water usually sorts them. Planting onions nearby can sometimes help, and nasturtiums are good for distracting them.
Harvest
You'll be harvesting from June right through to October, roughly 80 days after sowing, chuffed when you see them. Cut the main central head first, before the florets start to open up and go yellow. Then, don't forget, you'll get smaller side shoots coming on for weeks afterwards. They're best fresh, mind, but they blanch and freeze really well for later.
I always try to get a few plants into a big container by the back door, saves a trip to the plot for a few florets for tea, you know what I mean.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Corvet F1 Corvet F1 is a fast-growing, early variety, perfect if you're keen to get your first harvest quickly. It's a reliable choice for anyone wanting to kick off the season with some fresh calabrese. | No club votes yet |
| Arcadia F1 This variety is known for its heat tolerance, making it a good choice for warmer summers or sunnier spots on the plot. It's a dependable summer producer that won't let you down when the sun's really beating down. | No club votes yet |
| Marathon F1 Marathon F1 is a proper late-season variety, great for extending your harvest well into autumn. If you want to be picking calabrese when others have finished, this one's for you. | No club votes yet |
| Green Sprouting This is a traditional, heritage variety that's been grown for years, known for its consistent yields of delicious florets. A solid choice for those who appreciate old-fashioned reliability and flavour. | No club votes yet |
| Belstar F1 Belstar F1 is a cracking high-yield variety that produces large, weighty heads, so you'll get plenty for your efforts. If big harvests are what you're after, this one certainly delivers. | No club votes yet |
| Romanesco This is a specialty variety with a unique, decorative spiral pattern on its heads, looking almost too good to eat. It's a bit of a showstopper and great for adding a fancy touch to your plate, though it grows like any other. | No club votes yet |
| Summer Purple Summer Purple is a heritage variety that gives you lovely purple heads, adding a bit of colour to your plate and the plot. It's also quick-growing, so you won't be waiting around for long. | No club votes yet |
| Fiesta F1 Fiesta F1 is a reliable, bolt-resistant variety, which means it's less likely to go to seed early when the weather gets tricky. A good, dependable choice, especially if you've had trouble with bolting before. | No club votes yet |
| Ironman F1 Ironman F1 is another proper late-season choice, known for its cold hardiness, so it can stand up to a bit of a chill. Ideal for stretching your harvest into the colder months and getting some proper late crops. | No club votes yet |
| Destiny F1 Destiny F1 is a solid maincrop variety that gives you medium-sized central heads followed by a good flush of side shoots. It’s a great all-rounder for a steady supply throughout the season. | No club votes yet |
| Samson F1 Samson F1 is a maincrop variety that produces really large, domed and heavy central heads, so you get a proper weighty harvest. If you like your calabrese big and bountiful, this one's for you. | No club votes yet |
| Parthenon F1 Parthenon F1 is a real specialist when it comes to side shoots, giving you a continuous supply after you've cut the main head. It's a cracking choice if you love those smaller, tender florets that keep coming. | No club votes yet |
| Early Dividend F1 As the name suggests, Early Dividend F1 is a quick-maturing variety, perfect for getting an early harvest onto your plate. It's a good one to pick if you're impatient for that first taste of home-grown veg. | No club votes yet |
| Monclano F1 Monclano F1 is known for producing uniform, tight central heads, making for a neat and tidy harvest. If you appreciate consistency and a good-looking crop, this one's a reliable choice. | No club votes yet |
| Chevalier F1 Chevalier F1 is a late-season variety that's particularly winter hardy, meaning it can withstand colder conditions on the plot. It's a good option for extending your brassica harvest well into the colder parts of the year. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Calabrese seeds
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Cook the harvest
A Southern Italian-style pasta where calabrese is cooked down until tender and saucy, absorbing the deep savouriness of anchovy and garlic. Toasted chilli breadcrumbs add crunch and heat in every forkful. This is weeknight food that tastes like you tried much harder than you did.
30 min · easyA proper weeknight frittata that lets a whole head of calabrese do the heavy lifting. The florets are briefly sautéed until just tender, then set in a deeply savoury egg and mature cheddar base with a little chilli heat running through it. Cut it in wedges straight from the pan and it feeds four in under half an hour.
28 min · easyA fast, fiercely hot stir-fry that treats calabrese the way a Cantonese kitchen would — high heat, minimal fuss, bold sauce. The florets stay just slightly crisp, the sauce coats every piece with deep savoury sweetness, and the cashews add crunch where it counts. On the table in twenty minutes, better than a takeaway.
20 min · easyA single whole head of calabrese, roasted until deeply caramelised and nutty, then draped over a smoky Catalan romesco sauce made from roasted peppers, almonds, and tomato. Scattered with capers fried until crackling crisp, this is the kind of dish that makes people forget there is no meat on the table. Serve it as a dramatic centrepiece side or a generous vegetarian main.
60 min · mediumWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: onions, nasturtiums
Questions people ask
When do you sow Calabrese in the UK?
Sow Calabrese from March to June.
How long does Calabrese take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 80 days, with the harvest June to October.
Which Calabrese varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Corvet F1, Arcadia F1, Marathon F1, Green Sprouting and more.
Track your Calabrese from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.