broccoli raab/rapini

[TightenUp]

any tips on growing? better spring or fall crop? any specific varieties?

[TightenUp]

how about growing in a container?

[mdvpc]

Chef

Dont know about your growing seasons, but I have grown it in containers easily.

[TightenUp]

thanks

would 5 gallon pots get the job done?

[mdvpc]

Yes, sure would.

[Sherry_AK]

Different question on same subject, if I may. When do you pick this stuff? I've grown it the past 2 years in raised beds. Just about the time I think it's ready to harvest, about 30 seconds later it's covered with yellow flowers. Is this just an issue of my ignorance, or possibly related to our extreme daylight hours, or ???

Thanks!

Sherry

[TightenUp]

Originally Posted by Sherry_AK

Different question on same subject, if I may. When do you pick this stuff? I've grown it the past 2 years in raised beds. Just about the time I think it's ready to harvest, about 30 seconds later it's covered with yellow flowers. Is this just an issue of my ignorance, or possibly related to our extreme daylight hours, or ???

Thanks!

Sherry

according to burpee

"Cut 6" pieces when the 'broccolis' are the size of a quarter."

i know this will prob not help but at least a general rule of thumb.

[Sherry_AK]

Thanks, Jeff. I'm apparently not picking soon/quick enough! Not sure if I'll try again this summer or not.

Sherry

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by Sherry_AK

Different question on same subject, if I may. When do you pick this stuff? I've grown it the past 2 years in raised beds. Just about the time I think it's ready to harvest, about 30 seconds later it's covered with yellow flowers. Is this just an issue of my ignorance, or possibly related to our extreme daylight hours, or ???

Thanks!

Sherry

I wish I could explain it over the internet. The way you tell is by closely looking at the heads. Just before they bloom you will notice them swelling and becomming "looser".

Once the tighter heads become "loose" then you have only a couple days at most before they bloom, depending on weather.

I personally think the flavor JUST before bloom is awesome. I feel like the nectar for the flowers is already being produced. So I often let them go right to the razors edge like you did. However any experienced grower will tell you that is really too late. I also have blinked and missed it myself. Just one morning I forget to check closely and if unlucky by that evening it will bloom.

Go look at the grocery store. Those are picked even before they started swelling at all. Otherwise they would bloom even on the produce isle shelves.

Remember, don't look at the whole cluster, look at the individual flower buds in each head. Once they get to swelling and the head becomes "looser", the bloom follows fast. The whole head itself in Raab is small but the individual flower buds mature similar to regular broccoli.

I hope my ramblings help. It is just hard to explain on the internet. It is just one of those things experience helps.

PS. If you judge it wrong, don't panic. You can still pick it. It even still tastes good although the texture is ruined. But after you pick it, the plant will send out new heads, smaller but just as tastey.

[FreyaFL]

Chef, such a timely thread! I have a bunch of these growing now, my first time, too, and had a similar question but couldn't think of where to ask (didn't occur to me to ask on this forum) or find the info. So, I hope you don't mind my adding to your question...?

How big do these get? Two days ago I stuck four seedlings into one 5 gallon bucket and have five others in individual 2L bottles (which could be moved, if necessary.) Will this work or have I severely overcrowded them?

And, great info on when to pick! (Assuming I get to that stage.)

[Sherry_AK]

Scott -- Thanks for the further clarification. Based on the descriptions given, I've probably waited a tad too long to begin harvesting. But they do seem to flower much more suddenly than my broccoli ever has. We'll just have to eat faster if I try it again!

Sherry

[RobinB]

I've got some broccoli raab growing in a pot along with a tomato. How big do these plants get? I really wasn't thinking, except for the fact that I didn't have any more space to put the seeds to grow! My 8 YO son keeps picking the leaves and eating them, so it may not matter!

[Redbaron]

Brassicas tend to grow large or small depending on light cycle, environmental factors etc. There really is no set answer...I will continue to grow as long as it can until triggered to bolt.