A broccoli that doesn’t panic when the weather changes. Cezar is a mid-early Polish broccoli variety with compact, dark green heads approximately 15 cm in diameter. It tolerates temperature fluctuations well and does not tend to loosen prematurely, making it successful both from spring sowing for a summer harvest and from summer sowing for an autumn harvest – including in an unheated tunnel.

At a glance

• Type: mid-early variety for spring and autumn cultivation
• Heads: green, compact, approx. 15 cm in diameter
• Sowing under cover: March (for a summer harvest)
• Sowing in a seedbed: April – May (for an autumn harvest)
• Planting out: second half of April – end of June
• Harvest: July – October
• Position: sunny, fertile, humus-rich soil
• Difficulty: moderate – requires fertile soil and regular watering
• Number of seeds per packet: approx. 600 (2 g)

What makes this variety stand out

Cezar is one of the most popular Polish broccoli varieties for amateur cultivation – and not without reason. The plants are vigorous and have upright leaves, while the main head is well-shaped, domed and compact, dark green, sometimes with a purple bloom. After the main head is cut, the plants produce numerous smaller side heads, extending the harvest from a single batch of seedlings by several weeks.

The variety’s greatest advantage is its excellent health and tolerance of temperature fluctuations: Cezar does not bolt or flower prematurely during sudden warm spells, which is valuable in Poland’s unpredictable climate. The producer recommends it for outdoor cultivation in spring and autumn, as well as in unheated polytunnels.

Growing step by step

Sowing (March, under cover, or April – May, in a seedbed): sow the seeds in trays or cell trays, approximately 1 cm deep. At a temperature of 15–20°C, seedlings emerge after 5–8 days. After emergence, lower the temperature to 12–15°C so the seedlings grow sturdy. For an autumn harvest, sow directly into a seedbed in the ground in the second half of May.

Pricking out: when the seedlings develop their first true leaf, prick them out into 6–8 cm pots or into trays with large cells. The seedlings are ready after 5–6 weeks, when they have 4–6 leaves.

Planting out (second half of April – end of June): plant the seedlings at a spacing of 50 × 50 cm, slightly deeper than they were growing in the pots, in fertile, humus-rich soil with a nearly neutral pH. Broccoli tolerates light frosts, so the first planting date can be used as early as April, preferably under horticultural fleece.

Care: broccoli needs consistent moisture – water generously during drought and mulch the soil. Fertilisation: apply manure or compost to the preceding crop, then use a compound fertiliser with calcium once or twice during the season. Protect the plants from cabbage white butterflies and cabbage root flies with insect mesh or horticultural fleece. Cut the main head with a piece of stem when it is compact and the buds are still closed – then wait for the side heads.

Uses

Cezar is suitable for eating fresh – steamed, in salads, soups and casseroles, or stir-fried – and is also excellent for freezing: after blanching, the compact heads retain their colour and shape. An autumn harvest, lasting until October, provides fresh vegetables when the cucumber and tomato season is already coming to an end. Good neighbours in the vegetable garden include broad beans, lettuce, beetroot, dill and marigolds.

Gardener’s tip

Specifications