Heirloom · Open-Pollinated · 48–65 days from transplant
cool-season · timing varies by zone
Grows well in
Raised Bed ✓
In-Ground ✓
Container/Pot ✓
Grow Bag ✓
Meet This Plant
Most broccoli gives you one head, but De Cicco is not most broccoli. Instead of one big head, it produces a small central head first and then just keeps going, putting out side shoots for weeks. Compact, productive, and more forgiving in warm climates than most broccoli varieties. She's that girl.
What it tastes like: Mild, fresh, and slightly sweet. The side shoots are more tender than the main head and have a cleaner flavor than most store-bought broccoli you've had.
How to Grow It
Sun
Full sun, at least 6 hours a day. In warmer zones partial shade in the afternoon helps slow bolting.
Water
Broccoli is thirsty. Keep soil consistently moist throughout the season. Dry spells stress the plant and speed up bolting.
Sowing Details
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Depth¼–½ inch
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Spacing18–24 inches
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Row Spacing24–36 inches
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Thinning18–24 inches
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Germination5–10 days (slower in cool soil)
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Days to Maturity48–65 days from transplant · ~75–100 days from seed
When to Plant
For spring, start indoors 4–6 weeks before your last frost. Transplant out 2–3 weeks before your last frost when daytime temperatures are consistently in the 40s to 50s°F.
For fall, start indoors 10–12 weeks before your first fall frost or once daytime temperatures begin dropping below about 75°F, and transplant out in late summer.
Zones 7–8
For fall, start seeds indoors in late summer and transplant once daytime temperatures start dropping below 80°F, typically 8–10 weeks before your first fall frost. This is where De Cicco does what it does best.
For spring, start seeds indoors in late winter and transplant while daytime temperatures are still in the 50s to 60s°F, typically 4–6 weeks before your last frost. Get them in early. Rising temperatures lead to bolting before the plant finishes producing.
Zones 9–11
Fall through early spring is your window. Start seeds indoors in late summer and transplant once temperatures begin cooling, typically around your first fall frost window.
Grow Friend Tips
Harvest the main head small and the side shoots will go wild
De Cicco's main head tops out around 3–4 inches. Harvest it while the buds are still tight and dark green. That's what kicks the side shoots into gear. The smaller you harvest that first head, the more aggressively the plant redirects energy into producing more. This is a cut-and-come-again variety and it rewards that approach.
The leaves are edible and most people don't know that
Baby leaves can be cooked just like kale. If you're already growing De Cicco, you basically have a bonus green hiding in plain sight. Harvest a few outer leaves while the plant is growing and throw them in a stir fry or sauté. Don't strip the plant, but don't ignore them either.
It bolts faster in heat so timing is everything
De Cicco handles warmth better than Calabrese but it's still a cool-season crop at heart. If temperatures climb before the plant finishes producing, you'll lose it fast. Plant it so the heads are forming during the coolest part of your season and you'll get a much longer harvest window.
Broccoli is a heavy feeder. Treat it like one.
Side dress with compost or a balanced fertilizer a few weeks after transplanting. Nutrient-poor soil produces pale, slow plants with small disappointing heads. Rich soil makes a real difference.
Rotate it every year
Don't plant broccoli where any brassica grew in the last three years. Clubroot and other soil-borne diseases build up fast in the same spot. Plant in a different spot each year and your plants stay healthier with almost no extra effort.
Row cover is your best friend early on
Put row cover on at planting and don't lift it until plants are established. Flea beetles work fast and will shred young seedlings before you even notice they're there. Cabbageworm shows up later in the season, so check the undersides of leaves weekly and pick them off by hand. Bt works if things get too out of hand.
Companion plants
Dill
Nasturtium
Marigold
Garlic
Celery
Onion
Chamomile
Harvest & What to Do With It
When it's ready
The central head is ready at 3–4 inches with tight, dark green buds. Don't wait for it to get bigger. Cut it so the side shoots start coming in. Those are ready when they're a few inches long with tight buds. Same rule applies. If you see any yellow, harvest immediately.
How to harvest
Cut the central head with a sharp knife, leaving 5–6 inches of stem. Make a slanted cut so water doesn't pool and rot the stalk. Check every few days after that and cut side shoots as they appear. Regular harvesting is what keeps them coming.
Yield
A small central head per plant, then several weeks of side shoots that keep coming as long as you keep cutting. Plant a few at a time every couple of weeks and you'll have a steady flow rather than a bunch all at once.
Short-term storage
Refrigerate dry in a loose bag and wash right before use. Good for about 3–7 days. Broccoli declines fast after harvest. Don't let it sit.
Long-term storage
✅
Freezing: Blanch 3 minutes, ice bath, dry well, freeze flat then bag. Keeps up to 12 months. Best texture of any preservation method for broccoli.
✅
Dehydrating: Blanch first, then dehydrate at 125°F until completely dry. Good crumbled into soups. Keeps 6–12 months airtight.
✅
Refrigerator pickling: Quick pickled florets with vinegar, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Keeps 2–3 weeks in the fridge.
❌
Pressure canning: Broccoli can be pressure canned safely, but it turns mushy and sulfurous. Not worth the effort or the smell. Most gardeners prefer freezing.
❌
Water bath canning: Low-acid vegetable. Not safe on its own.
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Root cellaring: Doesn't hold up outside of refrigeration.
What to cook
Roast it at high heat until the edges char. That's the move most people skip and shouldn't. It also holds up well in stir fries, soups, and pasta where it absorbs flavor without falling apart.
Seed Storage & Saving
| Variety |
De Cicco Broccoli |
| Type |
Heirloom · Open-Pollinated |
| Seeds per packet |
~150 seeds |
Storing unused seeds: Keep somewhere cool, dark, and dry. Viable 3–5 years.
Seed saving: De Cicco is a biennial. It sets seed in year two. Let a few plants overwinter and bolt in spring, then collect pods once they're fully dry. Crosses freely with other Brassica oleracea crops including kale, cabbage, and cauliflower. You need at least ½ mile of distance from any flowering relatives to keep the variety true.
