Romanesco, the Unearthly Vegetable

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Posted by @ediblelandscapingsc on
Sometimes a plant just stops you in your tracks. Romanesco is one of those plants both in the garden and on your plate.

Thumb of 2015-08-03/ediblelandscapingsc/efbc72Your first glimpse of this strange vegetable will have you wondering, what is this unearthly looking thing. What first appears to be from Mars, is actually a Brassica like broccoli and cauliflower. Its more common name is Broccoli 'Romanesco' and it produces lime-green or chartreuse heads packed with smaller florets similar to its cauliflower cousin. They grow much like cauliflower off of thick stalks with wide rough leaves.

Romanesco is rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, dietary fiber, and carotenoids, along with many other trace elements that all play a role in a healthy diet. It has recently been more and more under the scope of scientists as some of the active constituents found in it have demonstrated incredible health benefits, including diindolylmethane, which has exhibited certain anticancer properties in breast cancer studies.

This fractal vegetable has also caught the eye of mathematicians. Due to its fractal form and the spirals formed by the florets, it creates the Fibonacci spiral. The Fibonacci is a series of numbers where the next number is found by the sum of the previous two numbers. 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, … Also, a fractal shape indicates that on any scale of the size of the object, it will still be the same. Other examples of fractals are pine cones, daisies, snowflakes, etc.

Thumb of 2015-08-03/ediblelandscapingsc/e63ef1Romanesco is fairly easy to grow, and it grows exceptionally well in cool northern areas. Romanesco grows best in temperate climates over the cooler months. You can grow it in both spring and fall, but avoid mid-summer crops as hot weather can cause bolting.The cool-season crop grows best when daytime temperatures are in the 60s F. Direct-seed in midsummer for a fall crop, or start transplants in late May and transplant in late June or early July. Prepare a sunny garden space for the transplants or seeds by adding plenty of organic compost to the planting site. Sow seeds about 1/2 inch deep and keep watered. Use an organic low-nitrogen fertilizer at planting. Too much nitrogen fertilizer may cause hollow stems. Plants have shallow root systems. Mulch to protect roots, reduce weed competition, and conserve moisture. In Zone 7b and warmer, fall crops will often overwinter. To harvest Romanesco, pick the entire head before it starts to separate. Heads should feel tight and compact when you squeeze them. This vegetable is served in a variety of dishes, such as salads, fricassee, pastas, and other savory recipes. Most people here in the U.S. usually steam it or cook it the way they would cook broccoli.

Romanesco makes a great addition to the edible landscape, as well as your plate. I hope you choose to add a few plants to your garden if you aren't already growing some.

 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Romanesco by GooseGarden Jun 21, 2020 12:16 PM 1
Head doesn't appear? by DonShirer Aug 5, 2015 8:29 PM 2
Taste? by dirtdorphins Aug 5, 2015 8:05 PM 9
I love this plant! by Weedwhacker Aug 5, 2015 11:16 AM 2

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