How to Grow Piccolo Calabrese

Wikimedia Commons

Piccolo Calabrese

Brassica oleracea var. italica

vegetable

Piccolo Calabrese is a miniature broccoli variety that produces small, delicate florets on compact plants. It's ideal for home gardeners with limited space and offers tender, sweet florets with a milder flavor than standard broccoli. This Italian heirloom variety is a prolific producer that yields multiple side shoots after the main head is harvested.

When should you plant Piccolo Calabrese in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Piccolo Calabrese timeline →

Example Piccolo Calabrese timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Piccolo Calabrese
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Piccolo Calabrese
Around Jun 6

≈ 50 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Piccolo Calabrese dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; tolerates partial shade in hot climates

💧

Water: Consistent moisture; 1-1.5 inches per week via drip irrigation or deep watering. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water at soil level to prevent fungal diseases.

📏

Spacing: 12 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 50-70 days from transplant

🌱

Planting depth: 0.25-0.5 inches for seeds; transplants at soil level

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-7.5

Amendments:

Compost aged manure balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) bone meal for calcium

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 4-9; grows as a cool-season crop in spring and fall

3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a

Get my Piccolo Calabrese timeline →

Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Tiny cotyledons emerge with first true leaves appearing within 7-10 days. Plants develop a small rosette of blue-green leaves.

Provide bright light, maintain 65-75°F, keep soil consistently moist. Thin to 1 plant per cell if direct seeding. Avoid overwatering to prevent damping off.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks after transplanting

Compact, bushy plant develops multiple true leaves with characteristic blue-green coloring. Plant remains low-growing (12-18 inches tall) with no sign of head formation yet.

Harden off transplants over 7-10 days before planting. Space 12 inches apart. Water deeply and consistently. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Mulch around base with 2-3 inches of straw.

Head Formation

2-3 weeks

Small, tight broccoli heads begin forming at the center of the plant. Florets are compact and densely packed, appearing dark green to blue-green in color.

Increase nitrogen slightly with side-dressing of compost or diluted fish emulsion. Monitor for pests like cabbage worms and beetles. Maintain consistent watering—irregular watering can lead to loose, inferior heads.

Main Head Ready

3-7 days at peak readiness

Central head reaches 2-4 inches in diameter, tightly formed with small individual florets visible. Head is firm, dense, and ready for harvesting.

Check heads daily once they begin forming. Harvest when heads are firm but before individual florets begin to open or yellow. Cool morning harvest yields best flavor and texture.

Side Shoot Production

3-6 weeks

After main head removal, multiple smaller side shoots (4-8 inches) develop along the stem. These shoots provide additional harvests over several weeks.

Continue watering and fertilizing to support secondary growth. Harvest side shoots when 2-4 inches long before they become woody. Piccolo Calabrese is prized for this extended harvest period.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Beets Carrots Chamomile Dill Garlic Marigold Nasturtium Onions Oregano Peas Rosemary Sage Spinach Thyme

Avoid planting near:

Cabbage family (if spacing is tight) Fennel Kohlrabi Strawberries Tomatoes

Common Pests

Hand-pick caterpillars daily. Use row covers over young plants. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray every 7-10 days. Plant nasturtiums as trap crops.
Remove by hand. Use Bt spray. Encourage natural predators like parasitic wasps and lacewings.
Use fine row covers on seedlings. Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap. Dust with food-grade diatomaceous earth. Install yellow sticky traps.
Spray with strong water stream to dislodge. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil. Release ladybugs or parasitic wasps.
Use yellow sticky traps. Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen.
Practice crop rotation (3-4 year minimum from other Brassicas). Raise soil pH to 7.2+. Remove infected plants immediately. Disinfect tools between plants.

Uses

🍳

Fresh Eating & Salads

Culinary

Piccolo Calabrese's delicate, tender florets are perfect for raw consumption in salads, crudités, and snacking. The mild, sweet flavor makes it appealing to children and those who find standard broccoli too strong. [source]

🍳

Sautéing & Roasting

Culinary

The small florets cook quickly and evenly, developing rich caramelization when roasted with olive oil and garlic. This method brings out deeper, nutty flavors and creates crispy edges. [source]

🍳

Steaming & Stir-frying

Culinary

Piccolo Calabrese's compact size makes it ideal for rapid cooking methods. It retains its bright green color and crisp-tender texture when steamed for 4-6 minutes or stir-fried briefly. [source]

💊

Nutritional Powerhouse

Medicinal

Like all broccoli, Piccolo Calabrese is rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, and sulforaphane—a compound studied for potential anti-cancer properties. High in fiber, folate, and antioxidants supporting overall health. [source]

🏠

Extended Harvest & Storage

Household

The prolific side-shoot production provides multiple harvests from a single plant, extending the harvest season by 4-6 weeks. Fresh heads keep for 3-5 days in refrigerator; can be blanched and frozen for longer storage. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest the main central head when it reaches 2-4 inches in diameter and is still tightly formed, before florets begin to separate or turn yellow. Cut the head with 4-5 inches of stem using a sharp knife. Once the main head is removed, multiple side shoots will develop; harvest these when they reach 2-4 inches long for a continuous harvest over 3-6 weeks. Piccolo Calabrese is best harvested in the cool morning hours when the plant is hydrated and florets are crisp. The plant remains productive until hard frost.

Fun Facts

🌱 Piccolo Calabrese is an Italian heirloom variety that translates to 'little Calabrese,' referring to the Calabria region in southern Italy where broccoli cultivation has deep historical roots.
🌱 Unlike standard broccoli that produces one main head, Piccolo Calabrese is a 'sprouting' broccoli variety that yields 6-10 side shoots after the main head is harvested, providing continuous harvests over many weeks from a single plant.
🌱 The florets contain higher concentrations of sulforaphane when raw or lightly cooked, making them a functional food choice for those seeking the compound's potential health benefits. Cooking at high heat (steaming 5+ minutes) actually reduces sulforaphane content.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Compost Damping Off Full Sun Heirloom Mulch Partial Shade Transplant True Leaves

Shop Piccolo Calabrese plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Piccolo Calabrese planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Piccolo Calabrese seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Piccolo Calabrese timeline →