Calabrese

[Florence Fennel]

How close together can I get away with planting calabrese? I'm rapidly running out of space (again), but I know they grow really big and I do want decent sized heads. Anyone grown it close together?

[Germinater]

Mine are planted about 10inches apart and they are growing fine without problems ..had 3 heads so far .rest are a little further behind bot maybe only a few weeks really .

[Aberdeenplotter]

Just planted mine at 18" with 2ft between rows.

[taff]

I didn't kow anything about spacing the first [and only time] I grew them so they had about 15 inches each way round. They were lovely, and edible, apart from the caterpillars i didn't wash out before I cooked them, which weren't lovely, but probably were edible....

[Florence Fennel]

I think caterpillars are classed as protein taff, especially when you get a bit stuck in your teeth

[Potstubsdustbins]

Florence, AP as the correct optimum distances., however due to a lack of space I tend to cram mine in a little. I have two beds each just over a metre square and I can get 9 plants in each bed. I have grown them this way for a number of years and providing you look after their needs you would be fine.

Again due to a lack of space I grow one called Green Magic which gives me one full curd per plant followed by several smaller curds. Double bubble for your space and work.

Colin

[Veggie Mackem]

I've planted 16 in a block 4x4 12" each way, I've also interplanted the rows of 4 with turnip and pakchoi in the hope that the later will have been and gone by the time thw calabrese needs the space, only trouble with this interplanting is the tight space for weeding!!!

[Aberdeenplotter]

The important thing about gardening is that we all do our own thing and if it works for us we continue to do it. I have plenty of room so I am able to use the spacing I mentioned above but I would be cramming them in if I had to. No real right way and wrong way, just go with the flow flo

[kingkano]

Exactly what aberdeenplotter said I got with 1 foot apart because I kind of square foot garden. Its just neater in my beds.

Closer together = smaller heads most likely.

[endymion]

Our brassicas are probably too close together, but I decided that planting right at the edge of the bed would work because they can send roots out under the lawn. They're in staggered rows (like a block) with no walking space between them.

[Florence Fennel]

Thanks very much all, I will go with the flow Colin!

[chris]

They sound great Colin, I'll have to see if I can get some.. Despite not growing Calabrese, we do eat a lot of it.

Do you need to trim any of the leaves off to keep the competition down, Colin?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Chris,

No I just let them get on with it. I have grown this vareity for several years now and always get a good return. They are rather hungry plants though especially when grown this close together.

Colin

[chris]

I'll give them a whirl next year then, thanks.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Chris,

Now I have started to harvest my calabrese I thought you might like to see what happens next.

The curd from this one was cut a week ago and the smaller curds are already appearing.

Colin.