Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

 

America’s Top Source for Pure Heirloom Seeds

Beautiful large growing plant. Heads were inconsistent but may have been due to weather. Review by James III

Overall Rating

My 1st time growing this or anything in the brassica family. Plants grew much larger than I expected. Spaced them according to recommendations for regular broccoli (18" apart). They grew MUCH larger! In the future I'd space them at least far apart as you would cauliflower (2 to 2.5 ft apart). Possibly even 3 feet apart. They get very tall as well, mine averaged close to 3ft height. Plant something very quick growing/harvesting in front of them if you'd like to not waste space. Upon further researching (difficult to find information on these) they are indeed closer to cauliflower than broccoli (though neither).

Out of 9 plants, only 3 grew the characteristic beautiful lime green spiral heads. They tasted wonderful though were undersized. 3 were dark purple tinged and had looser less spiraled heads. 3 grew lots of very late tall spaced heads resembling purple sprouting broccoli. The leaves were tightly covering the heads during early growth, which I opened on a several to check if they were growing. In retrospect, this could have possibly disturbed the head growth seeing as they are closer in growth habits to cauliflower than broccoli (again didn't know this before as provided info was sparse).

In any case, the leaves are edible (cook them as you would kale) as as are all from the brassica family. Though you'll want to use younger leaves and cut out the thick veins. Enough greens from 1 plant to last me until next spring probably.

Though I didn't get nearly as good production of the heads as I would have liked, I still think these have great potential. Further spaced, not opening the protective leaves, and with better weather they should fair much better. Had an unusually cold/dry July this year (zone 5 USA). Very attractive and healthy plants but finicky in getting good proper head production.

I plan to try these again with some adjustments with what I've learned from my mistakes and research on Romanesco broccoli (Romanesco cauliflower more accurately). Most web sites substitue growing instructions for broccoli with this plant which is wrong. I won't know for certain until I try it next year but I now believe you should treat them like a larger than usual more finicky cauliflower. Crossing my fingers for next year. Enjoying a crapload of cooked greens in the meantime :).

(Posted on 12/3/09)

Terrific Vegetable can be more challenging to grow than broccoli Review by Unknown

Overall Rating

We've grown Romanesco here on our small farm from three different seed sources. Baker Creek has never failed us! These plants are finicky and best grown as a fall harvest, not spring/summer harvest. We start the seeds in late June early July for an October/November harvest or late July seeding for December/January harvest (if you don't have hard freezes in Dec/Jan). If your plants are growing up to 3 feet tall and not heading they are probably receiving too much Nitrogen (we've had this problem once before). From the Baker Creek seeds, we harvest beautiful and superbly tasty spiraling (fractal pattern)
heads from about 90% of the plants in our fields. The other 10% either never produce, or produce very late and poorly. This is a very good harvest rate for us and for this difficult to grow plant. The flavor of these is excellent. They are a terrific and well received addition to our CSA boxes..

(Posted on 12/29/09)

Great at the farmers' market Review by JP

Overall Rating

Received these as a free sample, and didn't realize they were supposed to head. They grew like fantastic greens, and were our most popular seller at the local farmers' market. I had enough to eat, sell, and give away to the neighbors. 2 ft tall and nice, healthy stems and leaves.
I would grow them again to use as a green, and not worry about heads. Delicious and easy..

(Posted on 2/13/11)

Romanesco Broccoli Review by Julia The Jeweler

Overall Rating

Started these as seedlings in early February. Transplanted them outside here in eastern NC in late March. Plants are huge now (end of May), 3+ feet high, but no heads. Being an artist, I was very excited about the fractal-shaped heads and I'm very disappointed not to see any!! I have mulched thickly with composted chicken manure and perhaps have too much N in the system. I am grateful to the other reviewers and plan to try cooking some of the leaves and trying again in the fall..

(Posted on 5/31/11)

Better luck next time Review by Robyn

Overall Rating

My first time with broccoli and I had the common experience - from what I see here - of large vigorous plants that just kept growing up and never produced a head. Possibly it's nitrogen - will try again next year and in the meantime, see if the leaves do make good eating. The plants, I have to say, are extremely vigorous and strong..

(Posted on 8/1/11)

I give up! Review by Lori

Overall Rating

The plants grew fantastic! But no heads.......not one! Had them in two different locations. I had bought some broccoli starts from the nursery, just in case and had planted my transplants in the bed next to them. Still nothing, but the nursery starts did great! lol I'm chalking it up to no longer trying to grow broccoli from seed. After 4 years with nothing, I'm sticking with nursery starts. But, the plants themselves did grow wonderfully..

(Posted on 9/22/11)

A disappointment in 2 states Review by Virginia

Overall Rating

Had no luck with this in northern Illinois last year, plants grew great but never formed heads. My regular broccoli did fine. Gave some seeds to my mother in south Florida, it's been the same story for her. I won't be bothering with it again. .

(Posted on 2/2/12)

shape, not as expected Review by Reetie

Overall Rating

Only one of my plants grew in the expected turret shape. The others were more like regular florets. I'll try agin next year..

(Posted on 3/10/12)