Can someone please tell me the difference between these three? I am totally confused..... ???
Thank You
As far as I know, broccoli is the generic term. Calabrese and PSB are types of broccoli.
the green stuff they sell as broccoli in supermarkets is calabrese :)
I did wonder whether the calabrese and broccoli were the same thing.
Thanks.
MP
An extract from my website;
QuoteCalabrese & Broccoli are actually a form of Cauliflower and as such are treated in a similar way.
Calabrese is a mild flavoured green sprouting broccoli.
The hybrid varieties produce large green heads, and after harvesting produce a second crop of smaller spears reminiscent of traditional 'sprouting broccoli'
I hope that clears it up a bit.
May I add to that, TG? Hope it doesn't confuse. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
'Sprouting broccolis, Purple or White', are huge plants. They have smallish heads with tender stems. See WSB below. PSB can be harvested from July - April, depending upon variety.
'Broccoli' includes Winter Cauliflower, with large white heads, as with Summer Caulis. You always have too many heads at a time.
Calabrese is a compact plant, with a 5-6" first head, followed by several 3-4" ones. When you cut the first head, you want a good chunk of tasty stem, but leave the secondary buds for the follow-ons.
I fail to understand why all ads show just the florets being used. To me they are stick-in-the-throat nonsense, whereas the stems are more succulent than Asparagus. And so many people leave the heads until they are seeding. Even worse! Two stages shown below.
PSB takes much longer from sowing to harvest- don't make the mistake I made in my first year, digging up the PSB because it didn't seem to be doing anything by autumn, not realising it wouldn't be ready until the next spring! :-[
Yes, but......May planted PSB comes in in July?
My grand daughter called broccoli
Green trees, cauliflowers were:- White trees.
Life is less confusing when you are three.
It is confusing! Even the seed catalogues are confused!
However, I agree with Robert on this one. For me, PSB is broccoli that is usually harvested in Winter and early Spring. Calabrese is the Italian Sprouting Broccoli that is usually harvested in Autumn and early Winter. The RHS seems to use the same distinctions.
I have explained this further in this page from my website. http://www.growyourown.info/page89.html
Not really?
Calabrese can be cut from Autumn to Spring & Summer. We are cutting last year's sowing & this year's at the same time.
PSB is now commonly cut from July to May!
Decide what you want - ask & you'll most likely get it