Bonarda Broccoli

Bonarda Broccoli Seeds (Heirloom)

Non-GMO | Open-Pollinated | The Productive Purple Sprouter

The Culinary Edge 💜

If you are tired of the "one and done" nature of traditional heading broccoli, Bonarda is your solution. This Italian-style sprouting variety is bred for continuous production, yielding an abundance of slender, tender spears topped with deep violet florets. For the chef-grower, Bonarda represents the peak of "stem-to-floret" eating—the stalks are succulent, skin-tender, and lack the woodiness found in commercial varieties. It turns a simple side dish into a high-contrast, gourmet presentation.

30+ Seeds

At A Glance:

✨ Flavor Profile

• The "Asparagus" Broccoli: Often compared to young asparagus, the stems of Bonarda are sweet and tender enough to be eaten entirely, offering a satisfying crunch without the bitterness.

• Mild & Mellow: Lacks the strong "cabbage" odor often associated with over-mature heading broccoli, staying sweet even in the warmth of early summer.

🍴 Culinary Versatility

• High-Heat Roasting: The slender spears are built for the oven or the grill. They caramelize quickly, developing a crispy texture on the purple florets while the stems remain juicy.

• Vibrant Plating: While the purple color can fade during long boiling, a quick 2-minute blanch followed by an ice bath preserves the royal hue for cold salads or crudité platters.

• Pasta Companion: Chop the spears into 1-inch pieces and toss with olive oil, garlic, and orecchiette for a classic Italian preparation that highlights the vegetable's natural sweetness.

🌱 Growing Notes

• Continuous Harvest: The more you pick, the more it produces. Harvesting the central shoot early triggers the plant to send out an endless supply of side spears.

• Montreal Shoulders: Like most of our brassicas, Bonarda is a cool-weather champion. It is exceptionally hardy and performs best when timed for a late spring or autumn harvest in the Quebec climate.

• Space & Vigor: These plants are vigorous and can grow quite large; ensure they have enough room to breathe to maximize side-shoot production throughout the season.