Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Belstar'
calabrese 'Belstar'
A biennial grown as an annual vegetable. A cultivar producing a stout rosette of triangular, lobed, grey-green basal leaves and short, sturdy stalks bearing densely packed, edible heads of crisp, blue-green florets. It has an excellent flavour and remains in good condition for a long time. Successional sowing will provide a harvest throughout Summer and Autumn
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drained, Moist but well–drainedpH
Neutral, AlkalineColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Blue Green | Green | ||
| Autumn | Blue Green | Green | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Brassicaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Brassicas can be annual, biennial or perennial plants, most are upright with alternate, often glaucous leaves, long taproots and clusters of cross-shaped, yellow or white flowers. The genus includes a number of species bred to produce food crops, such as cabbages, turnips, mustards and oilseed rape, as well as others grown for their ornamental value
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, well compacted, non-acid soil in full sun. Sow thinly between April-June at a depth of 1cm in rows 30cm apart and thin seedlings to 10cm apart when large enough to handle. Can be sown indoors in a seed tray of good quality seed compost and covered with 6mm of vermiculite, maintain at 15 degrees until germination then prick out into individual cells. See calabrese cultivation for more detailed advice
Propagation
Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice
Suggested planting locations and garden types
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to birds, cabbage caterpillar, cabbage root fly, cabbage whitefly, cutworms, flea beetle, mealy cabbage aphid, slugs and snails, swede midge
Diseases
May be susceptible to black rot, club root, grey mould, leaf spot, white blister, downy mildew
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