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Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) (Calabrese)

Other names: Asparagus broccoli, Cape broccoli, Italian broccoli, Purple cauliflower, Sprouting broccoli

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Variety or Cultivar
B. oleracea (Italica Group) are semi-evergreen perennials grown as an annual vegetable crop with triangular, lobed, grey-green basal leaves and short, sturdy stalks bearing rounded, densely packed, edible heads of crisp, blue- to grey-green florets ready for harvest from early summer into autumn.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
0.8 m 0.6 m 1-2 years
2 ft 1 ft 1-2 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Plant in prepared, well-compacted, non-acidic soil in an area vacated by non-brassica crop. This cultivar is best consumed raw. Turns deep green when cooked.

Suggested uses

Beds and borders, Flavouring food and drinks, Add to salads

UK hardiness

H5

USDA zones

Sunset zone

A1, A2, A3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Unknown
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Unknown
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Semi-evergreen

Habit

Upright

Native to

Garden origin

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Propagation methods

Seed

Propagation

Sow from April to early June in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse. Gradually acclimate to outside conditions in mid- to late summer. Alternatively, sow in an outdoor seedbed and transplant when 10cm tall. 65 days to maturity.

Pests

Cabbage caterpillars

Cabbage whitefly

Flea beetles

Slugs

Snails

Mealy cabbage aphid

Chafer grubs in lawns

Cutworms

Cabbage root fly

Cabbage gall weevil

Swede midge

Cabbage stem flea beetle

Diamond-back moth

Birds

Diseases

Grey mould

Leaf spot

White blister

Clubroot

Downy mildew

Foot and root rot

Black rot

Hoe around crops

Dig next year's bed over in autumn adding manure or compost

Add lime to acid soil

Sow autumn variety cauliflower seed

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (180)

Brassica

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Brassica rapa var. nipposinica
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Brassica rapa var. nipposinica Mizuna
Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) 'Dwarf Green Curled'
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Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) 'Dwarf Green Curled' Kale 'Dwarf Green Curled'
Brassica rapa (Chinensis Group) 'Gracious'
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Brassica rapa (Chinensis Group) 'Gracious' Pak choi 'Gracious'
Brassica juncea
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Brassica juncea Chinese mustard
Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group)
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Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) Curly kale
Brassica napus (Napobrassica Group) 'Marian'
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Brassica napus (Napobrassica Group) 'Marian' Swede 'Marian'
Brassica napus (Napobrassica Group) 'Ruby'
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Brassica napus (Napobrassica Group) 'Ruby' Swede 'Ruby'
Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Ironman
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Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Ironman Calabrese 'Ironman'
Brassica rapa var. komatsuna 'Komatsuna Torasan'
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Brassica rapa var. komatsuna 'Komatsuna Torasan' Mustard spinach
Brassica oleracea (Botrytis Group) 'All Year Round'
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Brassica oleracea (Botrytis Group) 'All Year Round' Cauliflower 'All Year Round'
Brassica oleracea (Botrytis Group) 'Aviron'
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Brassica oleracea (Botrytis Group) 'Aviron' Cauliflower 'Aviron'
Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Bordeaux'
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Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Bordeaux' Broccoli 'Bordeaux'
Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Bitesize'
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Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Bitesize' Brussels sprout 'Bitesize'
Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Brigitte'
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Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Brigitte' Brussels sprout 'Brigitte'
Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Brilliant'
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Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Brilliant' Brussels sprout 'Brilliant'
Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Clodius'
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Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Clodius' Brussels sprout 'Clodius'
Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Cromwell'
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Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Cromwell' Brussels sprout 'Cromwell'
Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Wellington'
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Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Wellington' Brussels sprout 'Wellington'
Brassica oleracea (Capitata Group) 'Kilaxy'
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Brassica oleracea (Capitata Group) 'Kilaxy' Cabbage 'F1 Kilaxy'
Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Summer Purple'
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Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Summer Purple' Sprouting broccoli 'Summer Purple'
Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Autumn Spear'
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Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Autumn Spear' Broccoli 'Autumn Spear'
Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Claret'
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Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Claret' Broccoli 'Claret'
Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Green Magic'
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Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Green Magic' Broccoli 'Green Magic'
Brassica oleracae (Italica Group) 'Green Sprouting'
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Brassica oleracae (Italica Group) 'Green Sprouting' Sprouting broccoli 'Green Sprouting'
Brassica oleracae (Italica Group) 'Purple Sprouting'
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Brassica oleracae (Italica Group) 'Purple Sprouting' Sprouting broccoli 'Purple Sprouting'
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