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A late variety typical of Lazio, harvested about 140-145 days after transplanting, coinciding with the feast of San Giuseppe. Characteristic pyramidal head made of small spiral rosettes.
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San Giuseppe Roman broccoli is a late variety typical of the Lazio region, harvested after about 140-145 days from transplanting — a period that traditionally coincides with the feast of Saint Joseph (San Giuseppe), from which it takes its name. It stands out for its characteristic pyramidal head, made up of many small spiral rosettes arranged in an almost perfect geometric order.
Its botanical name is Brassica oleracea var. italica, belonging to the Cruciferae family (Brassicaceae). The plant is vigorous, with an upright habit, blue-green foliage and good cold resistance, both of the plant and of the head. The head, bright and uniformly green, is actually made up of many small fractal-like heads gathered into a single compact cluster.
The cultivation of Roman broccoli in Lazio dates back to ancient times, with records reaching as far as Roman antiquity: it was already prized by Cato and Pliny the Elder as a genuine and healthy food.
Seedlings are transplanted into open ground in early October, being a late variety. Row spacing is about 1-1.2 meters apart, with plants spaced roughly 60 centimeters apart along the row.
Before transplanting, deep plowing to 40-50 centimeters is recommended, followed by clearing and harrowing. Watering is done via sprinkler irrigation on 10-15 day cycles, while fertilization is carried out about 30 days after transplanting. Pest treatments, when needed, are generally limited to 1-2 applications during the whole growing cycle.
Harvest, done by hand, should take place when the head is large, free of dark spots, with crisp outer leaves clinging to it.
Being a late variety, careful planning of the October transplant is needed to align harvest with the feast of San Giuseppe. The head's good cold resistance makes it a reliable choice for the autumn-winter growing cycles typical of the Roman countryside.
Like other Brassicaceae, it can be subject to attacks by cabbage white caterpillars and aphids, controllable with Bacillus thuringiensis treatments and natural garlic or nettle macerates. It is important to avoid waterlogging, which favours root rot and fungal diseases such as downy mildew.
San Giuseppe Roman broccoli is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber and carotenoids. Its juice was traditionally used for therapeutic purposes as an anti-anemic, emollient, diuretic and detoxifying remedy. Recent studies have shown that sulforaphane found in broccoli may help counter cellular aging.