Broccoli Raab / Rapini

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

I'd be interested in any opinions/experiences of Broccoli Raab / Rapini. I'd never heard of it and just picked up some of the quick variety (is there such a thing? - just harvest earlier?).

How does it compare to broccoli taste? I know it is a turnip type, but it resembles sprouting broccoli in looks...

Thanks!

[bario1]

I've got some growing now - i've never tried it before, and to be honest i'm not sure what size it should be before you harvest it. Currently its about 6" high, and has small flowerheads forming, which i think are meant to be there, and are edible. I sowed '40 day', '60 day' and '90 day' varieties, but at the moment they all look the same.

[realfood]

I have grown it, the 40, 60, 90 day types. It has to be picked young and it is more bitter than sprouting broccoli.

[bario1]

From googling it, it seems it can be overwintered?

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Thank you for the replies. Certainly looks interesting, hopefully the seeds will arrive quick enough for me to get a harvest before it gets too cold!

This is the instructions for the seeds I have purchased:

Sow under cover with warmth from 4-6 weeks prior to the last expected frost.
· Germination averages 5-7 days under-cover at 65F.
· Can be sown directly outside as the soil warms in late spring sparingly in drills.
· Sow successionly thereafter until autumn.
· The seedlings transplant well but be careful not to disturb its roots.
· Transplant when the seedlings are around three inches high.
· The plants are best spaced around 30cm apart with 30cm between rows.
· As the plants matures, shoots begin sprouting from the plant's crown.
· When the shoots have grown about a foot high, harvest the buds along with the several leaves growing just under the bud.
· Keep harvesting to encourage new growth.

[bario1]

Well I've just picked some and I'm eating it tonight. I'll let you know how it was!

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Looks good. I hope you enjoyed it

[marchogaeth]

Put the seeds in the bin. IMO you are better off with Huauzontle (Aztec Broccoli ) Real seeds. Doesn't pretend to be anything else and one bush last for ages!

[Jardiniere]

grew it once and it was rubbish...untidy plant ...failry boring taste. Waste of space.

[bario1]

Well I thought it was delicious, like a meatier spinach. Quick crop, doesn't take up much space (I just broadcast sowed 6x2 feet, and these were the first thinnings). Plus all my spinach has bolted this year so I'm happy to get some greens. Try it with roast chicken pieces and butterbean mash!

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

A mixed response. Thanks for the replies.

I won't put them straight in the bin - I'll give them a go. One man's meat and all that... They only take 40 days and more to the point they can be sown now.

However, Hauzontle does look nice and has made it onto my, 'list of more things to try next year'. Thank you for the recommendation.

[BertieFox]

Broccoli Raab

This is what we used to know as 'turnip greens' though it is a variety that doesn't make a root, just lots of leaves. It is variously known as 'Cima di Rapa' and 'broccoletto' and various other names, usually accompanied by enticing pics of what looks like luscious sprouting broccoli heads!
The reality is that it is fine to grow in winter and early spring when there is little else but it is extremely strong tasting and not everybody's taste. As it is cut and come again this doesn't matter too much, and I always think that the stronger something tastes the better it must be for me!
I must admit that I have now largely switched to the milder and more productive Mizuna greens which grow even better in winter. I also find that real spring greens produce just as early in the polytunnel if planted early enough in autumn.
Try it by all means, as it is important we all keep these varieties going, but everybody has different tastes.

[BertieFox]

I should have added, that it does NOT 'transplant well' and you will get plants that go up to seed far more quickly if you do this (other than at seed leaf stage). The 'noventa' (90 day maturity) stuff is the best as you get much bigger flowering shoots.

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Thanks Bertiefox, hopefully it will be to my taste. If not, well, hey ho.

Do the slugs like it?

[BertieFox]

We don't seem to have slugs here, just thousands of snails. And they tend to leave it alone. I guess that's the advantage of the strong taste.