Di Cicco Broccoli

This very tasty broccoli from Italy produces an abundance of small to medium heads. The very productive plants produce lots of various sized florets throughout the season, giving you a long harvest period. We recommend harvesting the main head when it is 3” in diameter – this will encourage more side shoots. Sowing seeds every two weeks throughout the cool growing season will ensure a continual harvest. Excess harvest can be blanched and then frozen (instructions inside packet). Di Cicco Broccoli is also an excellent broccoli seed for sprouting.

When to plant outside: RECOMMENDED. As soon as soil can be worked in spring or 4-6 weeks before the average last frost. You can also plant it in late summer for fall harvest. In mild winter climates, it can be sown in late fall for winter or early spring harvest.

When to start inside: 6 weeks before transplanting outside. (3-4 weeks before average last spring frost.)

Special Germination Instructions: None. Easy to grow from seed.

Sprouting Instructions: Broccoli Di Cicco is only offered right now in a small packet, basically for growing out full-sized plants. But, you may also grow the seeds as sprouts if you would like to sample the wonderful nutritional benefits of broccoli sprouts. Many studies have shown that broccoli sprouts are high in many nutrients, including vitamins A and C, and cruciferous phytochemicals that may have anti-cancerous benefits. (Please note that, if not properly disinfected, all seeds have the possibility of carrying E. coli bacteria. Please disinfect the seed prior to sprouting by soaking in a 2% bleach solution (1 tsp. bleach to 1 cup hot tap water for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.) There are several ways to grow sprouts, the most popular, easiest, and least expensive is the jar method. All you need is a sterile glass canning jar and a lid - either a special sprouting lid or simply a piece of muslin, cheesecloth, or nylon screen secured with a rubber band. Place seeds in jar and cover with water. Soak for 4-6 hours. Then, rinse with clean water and invert jar. Rinse with clean water and drain 2-3 times a day until sprouts are of desired length. When leaves appear, place the jar in indirect sunlight to help them green up. When sprouts are mature, make sure they are thoroughly dry then you may store them in the refrigerator.