Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Ironman'
calabrese 'Ironman'
A hardy biennial grown as an annual. A top performing calabrese, popular for use by commercial growers because of its long cropping period between May-October, producing uniform blue-green edible, domed heads. This variety crops quickly, ready to harvest 75 days from transplanting. It shows good tolerance to hollow stem and resistance to bolting
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drained, Moist but well–drainedpH
Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Blue Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Blue Green | |||
| Autumn | Blue Green | |||
| Winter |
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 between March and June at a depth of 1cm and spaced 30cm apart. 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, white blister
Diseases
May be susceptible to black rot, club root, downy mildew, grey mould, leaf spot, white blister
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