Spring Rapini Broccoli Raab is a unique and flavorful addition to any garden, perfect for those who enjoy a slightly bitter, earthy taste. This tasty and elegant vegetable has spiked leaves surrounding a button-sized green bud that looks similar to a small broccoli head, sometimes crowned by small edible yellow flowers. Its tender leaves and vibrant green stems are packed with nutrients, offering a high dose of vitamins A, C, and K, making it a healthy choice for your meals. This vegetable is incredibly versatile, great for stir-fries, soups, salads, or sauteing with garlic and olive oil. Spring Rapini grows quickly, allowing for multiple harvests during the season, ensuring you can enjoy its fresh flavor all year. With its fast-growing nature and easy care, it thrives in cooler temperatures, making it an excellent choice for spring and fall planting in your garden. Also Known As: Broccoletti, Broccoli Raab, Broccoli Rabe, Spring Raab, Ruvo Kale, Raab, Rapa, Rapine, Rappi, Rappone, Fall And Spring Raab, Turnip Broccoli, Taitcat, Italian Or Chinese Broccoli, Broccolini, Broccoli De Rabe, Italian Turnip, Turnip Broccoli. Plant Name: Broccoli Rabe, Spring Rapini Latin Name: Brassica rapa var. ruvo Days to Germinate: 7-14 Days to Harvest: 40 Plant Height: 18 - 30 Inches Spread: 12 - 18 Inches Growth Habit: Upright USDA Zones: 2-11 Lifespan: Annual Brand: TomorrowSeeds Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial Shade Pollination: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated GMO: No Fungicide-Treated Seeds*: No Seeds Packed For**: 2026 *Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds. **Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates. Planting Instructions: Soil Preparation: Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots. Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth. Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 2 feet apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage. Planting: Planting broccoli raab in cooler weather helps prevent bolting, which can occur in hot temperatures (broccoli raab grows best in 60F-70F temperatures). Starting Indoors: For an earlier harvest, you may optionally start planting indoors in containers 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location when the soil temperature is above 55F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the holes, burying roots in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting. Directly Sowing: If directly sowing outdoors, plant in spring when the soil warms to at least 50F. For fall crops, direct sow seeds outdoors 12-14 weeks before the first frost. To plant, make holes 1/4 inch deep and spaced 8 inches apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole. If choosing to thin to the strongest plant, determine the strongest and healthiest plant, then remove all other plants, narrowing to a single plant per hole. Cover seeds thinly with soil and water after planting. Planting Depth: 1/4 inch Within-Row Spacing: 8 inches Between-Row Spacing: 2 feet Care During the Season: Watering: Water the plants deeply, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once a week. If there is no rainfall, water 2 times a week. Sandy soils may need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils. Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots. Fertilizing: Once seedlings are established, 3-4 weeks after planting, you may optionally apply 2 tablespoons of a complete fertilizer around each hole, or 1-2 pounds per 100 square feet, without letting the fertilizer touch the plants. Water plants after fertilizing. Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions. Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions. Harvesting: Broccoli raab is best harvested when flower buds are still closed and the stems are about 6 to 8 inches tall, about 40-60 days after planting. Broccoli raab that has bolted or has been harvested too late can affect the taste and texture. Broccoli raab plants will continue to produce new shoots that can be harvested, allowing for multiple harvests throughout the growing season.
