Brassica oleracea var. botrytis 'Romanesco'
Romanesco
Common names: Tower cabbage, Pyramid flower cabbage
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 50 cm, rows 60 cm
- Lifespan
- Biennial
- Sowing
- Apr–Jun
- Harvest
- Sep–Nov
- Hardiness
- Cold damage below −4 °C
- Water need
- High
- For children
- Well suited
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Romanesco is the most attractive relative of cauliflower and broccoli. Its bright green heads grow in a perfect spiral of small cones. It has a finer, nuttier flavor than cauliflower and is a striking visual feature in the garden or on the plate.
Care instructions
Plant seedlings after May with ample spacing in nutrient-rich, firm soil, Romanesco is a heavy feeder and requires consistent nourishment. Water deeply during dry periods to keep the heads closed, and protect the plants with a net from cabbage whiteflies. Harvest from September once the tip has fully developed its characteristic spiral.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingApr–Jun
HarvestSep–Nov
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 5 °C, ideally 20 °C
- Days to sprout
- 5 to 10 days
- Light
- Sprouts in light or dark
- Sowing depth
- 1 cm
- How to start
- Start indoors, then plant out
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
loamy, humus-rich, nutrient-rich, lime-loving
Romanesco wants a deep, loose loam soil that holds water well but does not become waterlogged. Keep the pH in the neutral to slightly limy range (about 6.5 to 7.5). That makes life harder for clubroot and improves nutrient uptake. Work in plenty of mature compost before planting; loosen heavy, wet soils with sand and coarse compost.
Brassicas are heavy feeders and susceptible to clubroot. Keep a 4-year break and do not follow directly on other crucifers such as radishes or mustard.
Feeding
Heavy feeder
Months
Mar–Aug
Prepare the bed a few weeks before planting with mature compost and horn shavings as basic supply. During the growing phase (roughly May to August), meet the high nitrogen demand with organic top-ups such as diluted nettle feed. Stop the nitrogen feeds in good time before the head forms, so that the head stays firm and flavourful. For autumn cultivation the same scheme applies, with the last feed correspondingly earlier.
Overwintering
Romanesco is an annual vegetable and dies after harvest. You overwinter nothing here. Harvest the heads in autumn before the first hard frost and sow anew next spring.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
Romanesco is propagated exclusively by sowing. For an early crop, start it from the end of February / early March on the windowsill or in a cold frame: sowing depth approx. 1 cm, germination temperature 15 to 18 °C, first seedlings after about a week. Once the seedlings are up, move them somewhere cooler (approx. 15 °C) so that they do not become leggy. After the first true leaves, usually after three to six weeks, when the young plants are strong, prick them out into individual pots (Ø 9 cm) and harden them off for about two weeks before planting them out after the Ice Saints (mid-May). Allow plenty of spacing: about 50 by 60 cm, because Romanesco needs a lot of room. For an autumn crop (harvest October/November), sow from mid-May to the end of June directly in the bed or start plants again. Since Romanesco germinates less well in heat, choose a partly shaded spot for the summer sowing and sow in the cooler evening hours. Direct sowing is possible from April, but starting under cover gives you a head start in development and better control of germination. With hybrid varieties (F1), true-to-type offspring is not guaranteed from saved seed. If you want to save your own seed, choose open-pollinated varieties (e.g. ‘Precoce di Jesi’) and avoid crossing with other brassica varieties.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
legume family (Fabaceae)
particularly well establishedLeguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.
For example PeaBush beanPole beanBroad beanSnow peaWrinkled pea and 36 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
carrot family (Apiaceae)
You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.
For example CarrotDillParsleyFlorence fennelCorianderCelery (Stalk Celery) and 20 more species in the catalogue
Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice
mint family (Lamiaceae)
You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.
For example LavenderThymeBasilRosemarySageHyssop and 43 more species in the catalogue
Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice
nasturtium family (Tropaeolaceae)
Nasturtium serves as a trap plant for you. Aphids and cabbage whiteflies prefer it over the brassicaceae next to it.
For example NasturtiumMashua
Source: Trap plant practice in organic horticulture
Rather not
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
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