Start This Unique Veggie Mid-Winter For A Healthier Harvest In The Summer

The cold months can be a time of daydreaming for gardeners itching to get their fingers in the soil; it can also be a time of preparation. During winter, there are many different crops we can start indoors with little more than a pack of seeds, some growing medium, and a few nursery pots. To make these cold-weather projects even more fun, we can up the ante by choosing unique plants to grow, like romanesco (Brassica oleracea). This unusual-looking cabbage relative is one of the veggies you should start indoors for a healthier harvest in the summer.

Romanesco is a variety of the species Brassica oleracea, and although it's closely related to broccoli and cauliflower, it isn't a type of either of them. This vegetable has its own identity, which you'll notice right off the bat. It's a food that's hard to ignore because its chartreuse heads are made up of spirally arranged florets with a fractal growth pattern. This crucifer doesn't just look fascinating — it's also delicious, with a texture similar to cauliflower but a nuttier flavor. And since these veggies aren't always available locally, you may want to count romanesco among the colorful crops to grow in your garden for a visual feast.

This is one of the plants you should start growing indoors in late winter because romanesco doesn't grow as well when direct-seeded in the garden. Start the seeds four to six weeks before your last frost. You can sow them in biodegradable pots to make transplanting easier, and be sure to pick a seed starting mix to give the seedlings a healthy start in life. Sow seeds ¼ to ½ of an inch deep in moist growing medium, and situate them in a window that gets lots of direct sun during winter, or under a grow light.

Within about 10 days, you'll see the little veggie seedlings pop their heads above the soil. Keep the soil moist but not soggy as the cruciferous seedlings grow – watering with a spray bottle can be a good way to ensure adequate moisture. After tending to the romanesco seedlings indoors over winter, you can move them into the garden after your last spring frost. When transplanting, leave enough room for them to grow — each plant can reach 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. You'll be able to harvest the unique heads from your crop in the summer, around 100 days or less after transplanting.