Calabrese Green Sprouting Broccoli

I was really impressed by these. They grew amazingly fast and well considering I overcrowded the pot they were in and kind of forgot about my garden for a few weeks in December when it was really cold. The sprouts are tender and flavorful and cook fast with a quick saute. In addition the greens are flavorful as well and do double duty while you are waiting for sprouts.

I started seeds inside in late Oct. 2017. Got nearly 100% germination, but I wasn’t consistent enough with watering and lack of sunlight caused a lot of leggy seedlings, so I only got about 3 plants out of it, but that’s enough to feed 2 people every couple of days. The florets are tender and completely lacking in sulfuric flavor in this unusually cool Southern California spring. As I continue harvesting, the florets are getting smaller and smaller but they’ve given a consistent supply of food for a month so far and still produce as much as I can eat.

I can't believe the production from this plant here on the Oregon Coast. Had it for dinner again tonight there is more to harvest. I'll never plant traditional Broccoli again..

We are impressed with this variety. Three plants produced more side sprouting heads than we could keep up with; I froze some of the extra. I'm growing it again this year. Does well in sandy loam on the riverbank here in central Wisconsin. Great flavor too. We picked our last heads in early December due to a mild fall season, and this frost-hardy variety of broccoli!

I really didn't understand what a sprouting broccoli was, so at first, I was a little disappointed in this plant. I have been looking, unsuccessfully, for many years for an OP broccoli that thrives here in my speck of Michigan - Zone 6A - sandy soil, so I can save the seeds. I have grown to love this plant. I wander down to the garden every three days and harvest enough broccoli shoots for supper and a few thrown in the freezer. These five plants have produced right up until now - after a couple good hard freezes. I have all the broccoli I need, it's a fine flavored plant, and it was kind of a laid back way of happening. I liked that - and I'm saving seeds.