Variety field guide
What to expect from Violetta Purple of Sicily
Violetta Purple of Sicily is a biennial cauliflower selection grown for curds for fresh use and cooking, cool-season production, and seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
A Sicilian masterpiece in living color. Brassica oleracea (Botrytis Group) ‘Violetta di Sicilia’-or ‘Purple of Sicily’-produces vibrant violet heads that turn green when cooked, revealing a sweet, nutty flavor without the bitterness often found in white cauliflower. The tender curds hold beautifully when roasted, steamed, or mashed, turning any dish into a feast for the eyes.
About Violetta Purple of Sicily
Violetta Purple of Sicily is a biennial selection of cauliflower, with an upright/erect habit and an expected height or spread of 25–30 in. It is best suited to curds for fresh use and cooking, cool-season production, and seed saving. Notable traits include purple coloring; harvest compact curds before they loosen or rice; mild brassica flavor with dense tender curds.
The value of Violetta Purple of Sicily is in the combination of its named traits, upright/erect growth, and fit for curds for fresh use and cooking, cool-season production, and seed saving.
History and provenance
Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, and kohlrabi are distinct crop groups within Brassica oleracea. Generations of selection emphasized different plant organs: flower buds, heads, leaves, side buds, or swollen stems. Their shared species identity is especially important in seed-saving isolation. Cauliflower Seeds - Violetta Purple of Sicily belongs to a plant lineage long associated with Mediterranean and Old World garden agriculture. It was selected over generations for kitchen, market, ornamental, or herbal value and remains useful in modern home gardens. An heirloom treasure from the island of Sicily, this variety embodies Mediterranean abundance-colorful, flavorful, and enduring.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Brassica oleracea L. Botrytis Group |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Biennial |
| Maturity | 80-89 Days |
| Germination | 5-10 Days at 50–65 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/4 in |
| Plant height / spread | 25–30 in |
| Growth habit | Upright/Erect |
| Spacing | 18 in between plants; 30 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Violetta Purple of Sicily from seed
Sow 1/4 in deep and keep the seed zone evenly moist. Expect emergence in 5-10 Days when the seed-zone temperature is near 50–65 °F. Germination preparation: Start in clean seed-starting mix when season length requires it, then transplant at a sturdy but not root-bound stage. Light requirement: Cover evenly to 1/4 in. Soaking: None required. Stratification: None required. Scarification: None required.
Planting and care
Plant during spring/Fall and provide full sun. Space plants 18 in apart with 30 in between rows. Use loamy with a pH near 6.0–6.5, and follow a moderate watering plan. Support requirement: No-Support. Frost response: Semi-Hardy. Medium to large container or in-ground bed; avoid crowding
Harvest and use
Approximately 80-89 Days, from transplanting to the primary market harvest stage. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date. Harvest: Harvest compact curds before they loosen or rice. Uses: Curds for fresh use and cooking, cool-season production, and seed saving. Flavor: mild brassica flavor with dense tender curds. Seed saving: Insect-pollinated Brassica oleracea. Best uses include curds for fresh use and cooking, cool-season production, and seed saving. Flavor and eating quality: mild brassica flavor with dense tender curds.
Saving seed
Select several healthy, true-to-type Violetta Purple of Sicily plants that match the expected upright/erect habit and overall plant form. Avoid saving seed only from the earliest or largest individual unless that is your deliberate selection goal. Pollination system: Insect-pollinated Brassica oleracea. Crop groups within Brassica oleracea can cross with one another. Separate compatible varieties that may flower together, or use cages, barriers, hand pollination, or another documented control appropriate to the crop. Violetta Purple of Sicily is a biennial. Seed production may require overwintering, vernalization, or more than one growing season, depending on climate and crop biology. Clean the seed carefully, dry it thoroughly away from direct heat, label the lot with variety and year, and store it cool, dark, and dry. Test germination before an important planting or distribution season.
Common problems
Common concerns: Flea beetles, imported cabbageworm, cabbage loopers, aphids, slugs, root maggots, and clubroot risk where the pathogen is present. Management: Use rotation, insect netting before pests arrive, regular leaf inspection, sanitation, and well-drained soil. Do not plant the same brassica family repeatedly in one bed. Diagnosis note: Similar symptoms can have different causes. Compare plants of the same age, record weather and irrigation, and use local Extension or diagnostic support before applying a control.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions - Violetta Purple of Sicily
When is Violetta Purple of Sicily ready? Use 80-89 Days. Approximately 80-89 Days, from transplanting to the primary market harvest stage. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date.
How long does germination take? Expect 5-10 Days at about 50–65 °F. Cooler, hotter, crusted, saturated, or dry seedbeds can slow emergence.
How large does it grow? Expect about 25–30 in with an upright/erect habit. Space plants 18 in apart and rows 30 in apart. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container? Medium to large container or in-ground bed; avoid crowding Use a container with drainage and enough volume to maintain the listed spacing and steady moisture.
Can I save seed? Insect-pollinated Brassica oleracea. Keep compatible varieties isolated and allow selected plants to reach full seed maturity.
