A Complete Guide to Growing Delicious Romanesco Broccoli

Romanesco broccoli is one of the most unique and beautiful vegetables you can grow. Its neon green heads are composed of delicate, spiraling cones that create an almost alien-like appearance. Beyond its funky looks, romanesco broccoli boasts a sweet, nutty flavor that adds delicious variety to your garden harvest.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything you need to successfully grow romanesco broccoli, from choosing the right variety to harvesting techniques. Let’s dive in!

While it looks like something from another planet, romanesco broccoli has been cultivated for over 500 years, originally hailing from Italy. It’s actually a variant of the Brassica oleracea species, making it a close relative of broccoli and cauliflower.

The most distinguishing feature of romanesco broccoli is its unique spiraled heads. The cones grow in an intriguing mathematical pattern known as a logarithmic spiral, creating stunning fractal shapes.

Beyond its cool looks, romanesco has a mild, sweet taste and firm texture. It can be eaten raw in salads or lightly cooked to retain its bright green color and signature flavor.

Now let’s look at how to grow this out-of-this world veggie for yourself!

Tips for Planting Romanesco Broccoli

Romanesco broccoli thrives when grown as a cool weather crop in spring or fall. Here are some key tips for getting it planted:

• Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. This gives seedlings time to mature before transplanting.

• Transplant seedlings 2-3 weeks after your average last frost date, once soil has warmed to at least 45°F

• Space plants 18-24 inches apart in fertile soil enriched with compost.

• Place plants so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.

• Full sun (at least 6 hours daily) and consistently moist soil are musts!

How to Care for Romanesco Broccoli Plants

Giving your romanesco broccoli attentive care will ensure you end up with a bountiful harvest. Here are the key elements this veggie needs to thrive:

• Water: Keep soil consistently moist, watering at the base of plants to avoid fungal issues.

• Fertilizer: Feed plants 1-2 times during growth with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to encourage vigorous growth.

• Weeding: Keep nearby weeds in check to prevent competition for water and nutrients.

• Pest control: Use lightweight row covers to protect against cabbage worms and other brassica pests.

• Ideal temperatures: 65-75°F throughout growth and development. Avoid summer heat!

Choosing the Best Romanesco Broccoli Varieties

There are a few popular romanesco broccoli cultivars to look out for:

• Veronica: The most common variety, with lime green spiraled heads and beaded texture. Matures in 75-85 days.

• Natalino: Lemon yellow color; loses hue when cooked. Matures in 180 days.

• Green Magic: Deep green color; grows well in heat. Matures in 90 days.

• Gitano: Lime green heads with pyramidal shape; cold hardy. Matures in 100-110 days.

I recommend Veronica or Gitano for their wide availability, good flavor, and disease resistance.

When and How to Harvest Romanesco Broccoli

Timing your harvest correctly ensures peak flavor and texture:

• Look for maturity in 75-100 days after transplanting seedlings.

• Heads should be 3-6 inches across. Cones will be tightly closed.

• Use a sharp knife to cut stalks at the base. Try to harvest before a hard freeze.

• Store heads wrapped in plastic in the fridge for 5-7 days max.

• Once the main head is cut, the plant will not produce side shoots for harvesting.

Can You Grow Romanesco Broccoli in Pots?

Luckily, romanesco broccoli can be grown successfully in containers:

• Use 3-5 gallon pots to accommodate the large mature size.

• Provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

• Use potting mix enriched with compost for drainage and nutrients.

• Keep soil consistently moist – check pots daily and water as needed.

• Move pots to a sheltered spot if temps drop below 45°F overnight.

With attentive care, you can enjoy homegrown romanesco from pots!

How to Save Romanesco Broccoli Seeds

If you want to collect seeds from your healthiest romanesco plants, here’s the process:

• Allow plants to fully mature until seed pods appear.

• Once pods are brown and dry, cut down the entire plant.

• Hang plants upside down to finish drying for 1-2 weeks.

• Crumble pods over a cloth to catch seeds as they fall out.

• Store seeds in envelopes or jars labeled with the variety and date.

Viola! You’ve harvested romanesco seeds for next year’s garden.

Troubleshooting Common Romanesco Problems

Romanesco broccoli is prone to the same issues as other brassicas. Here are some potential problems and solutions:

• Cabbage worms: Use lightweight row cover or BT spray.

• Clubroot disease: Improve drainage and soil health.

• Leaf spots: Avoid overhead watering and promote airflow.

• Heat/cold damage: Ensure temps stay between 45-75°F.

• Loose or open heads: Can indicate insufficient watering.

With prompt action, you can keep your romanesco healthy and happy!

Harvesting Romanesco Broccoli: What to Expect

As harvest time approaches, here’s what you can expect:

• Mature heads will be 3-6 inches wide.

• The lime green spirals will be tightly closed together.

• Harvest broccoli heads with 5-6 inches of stem attached.

• After cutting, heads last 5-7 days when refrigerated.

• No side shoots form, so harvest entire plant.

• All parts are edible – florets, stems, and leaves!

With proper planting and care, you’ll be rewarded with a bountiful romanesco harvest. Those alien-looking heads will add intrigue and flavor to salads, sides, and main dishes.