De Cicco Broccoli Seeds - Italian Broccoli with Side Shoots

Enjoy a gradual kitchen-garden harvest with De Cicco broccoli seeds. This traditional Italian broccoli develops a modest bluish-green central head followed by smaller side shoots when conditions remain favorable. Pick tender heads for steaming, stir-fries, soups, or freezing, rather than expecting one oversized supermarket-style head.

Choose your seed quantity

This listing is for seeds to plant, not live starter plants or harvested broccoli. Choose:

• 100 seeds
• 300 seeds
• 1 oz seeds
• 4 oz seeds
• 1 lb seeds
• 5 lb seeds

Bulk packs are sold by weight. Seed counts in weight-based packs vary by lot and are not guaranteed.

Variety details

• Variety: De Cicco
• Crop: Italian broccoli, Brassica oleracea
• Harvest: Central head and smaller side shoots
• Head size: Approximately 3–5 inches across under suitable conditions
• Plant height: May reach approximately 3 feet
• Maturity pattern: Plants can develop at different rates, extending the picking window
• Growing season: Cool to mild weather
• Light and soil: Full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with consistent moisture

Head size, side-shoot production, and harvest duration depend on weather, spacing, and care. Repeated harvests and a particular yield are not guaranteed.

When to plant

Plan for heads to develop during cool weather rather than peak summer heat. Start indoors approximately 5–6 weeks before your intended transplant date, or direct sow when local soil and weather conditions are suitable.

For a fall crop, work backward from your local cold-weather window and allow extra time as daylight shortens. In mild-winter areas, a fall or winter growing season may be appropriate. Use local planting guidance rather than a fixed calendar date for every region.

Starting seeds

1. Fill clean containers with a free-draining seed-starting mix.
2. Sow approximately 1/4–1/2 inch deep and water gently.
3. Keep the mix evenly moist, not waterlogged.
4. Provide bright light and airflow once seedlings emerge.
5. Thin or pot on seedlings before roots become crowded.

Germination speed varies with temperature, moisture, and seed condition. Do not rely on a guaranteed germination rate or the ability to emerge in very cold soil.

Transplanting and spacing

Gradually acclimate sturdy seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting. Plant at approximately their previous growing depth when the weather is suitable, protecting tender seedlings from damaging frost, strong wind, and abrupt temperature changes.

Space plants approximately 18–24 inches apart in rows 24–36 inches apart. For direct sowing, thin seedlings to the same final spacing. Avoid crowding if you want room for plants and side shoots to develop.

Growing care

• Maintain consistent root-zone moisture, especially while heads form.
• Mulch established plants to conserve moisture and limit weeds, keeping mulch away from stems.
• Incorporate finished compost where needed and feed according to soil needs and fertilizer label directions.
• Inspect regularly for cabbage worms, aphids, and other local pests.
• Use a suitable insect barrier when needed, securing the edges and checking beneath it.
• Support tall or wind-exposed plants if they become unstable.

Heat, drought, crowding, and other stresses can reduce head quality or encourage early flowering. Cool-season preference does not mean plants are protected from every freeze.

Harvest timing

Earlier information for this listing gives a broad 50–90-day range without consistently identifying the starting point. Treat this as a general reference, not a guaranteed number of days from sowing. Indoor seedling time and local growing conditions affect the total season.

Harvesting central heads and side shoots

Cut the central head while the buds are firm and tightly closed, before yellow flowers open. Use clean pruners or a knife and take a useful length of tender stem without removing the lower leafy plant.

Leave healthy foliage and continue watering to support possible side-shoot growth. Pick side shoots while their buds are still tight. Smaller side heads are normal for this variety; continued production depends on favorable conditions.

Microgreen growing

Broccoli can also be grown for young microgreens, which are a different crop from mature garden heads. Before using this seed for microgreens, confirm that the supplied lot is untreated and suitable for that purpose. This listing does not establish seed treatment status or food-safety testing.

Where suitability is confirmed, use clean trays, a suitable growing medium, clean water, good airflow, and hygienic handling. A previously listed 7–12-day microgreen harvest window is only approximate; development varies. Cut above the medium, wash appropriately, refrigerate promptly, and discard any crop with mold, slime, or an unusual odor. These planting seeds are not offered as ready-to-eat sprouts.

Kitchen use and storage

Wash harvested broccoli thoroughly and use the tender heads and stems in steamed vegetables, stir-fries, pasta, soups, or roasted dishes. Refrigerate promptly and use while fresh. For freezing, follow a tested blanching and freezing method rather than storing unprepared heads indefinitely.

Seed storage

Store unused seeds sealed in a cool, dry, dark place away from moisture and temperature extremes. Seeds supplied are for planting, not direct consumption.