Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Marathon'
calabrese 'Marathon'
A hardy biennial grown as an annual vegetable. An exceptionally reliable and long-harvesting Summer calabrese producing medium size, dense heads with a great flavour. It will grow in most soils and shows some resistance to disease
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 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 | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical 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 seeds in Spring in shallow drills at 1.5cm depth, thin to 45cm apart when 10-15cm tall. 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 whitefly, cabbage root fly, cutworms, flea beetle, mealy cabbage aphid, slugs and snails
Diseases
May be susceptible to black rot, club root, downy mildew, grey mould, leaf spot, white blister
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