How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Rapini (Broccoli Rabe)

Rapini broccoli rabe is a frost-tolerant member of the Brassicaceae family of plants. It produces tender leaves, stems, and flowers that are wonderful in a variety of dishes. Try it in stir-fries,

It resembles a small broccoli, with foliage that resembles mustard greens. It has a soft, lightly peppery flavor with a hint of bitterness. Because of its versatility, you’ll find it on fine dining menus and in home kitchens around the world. 

The plant is a relative of the turnip and is entirely edible. It loves cool weather climates and grows remarkably well in raised beds and containers. You can even get it to grow in your kitchen, as long as it has plenty of light. 

Grow it as a main crop in your garden beds or containers. Or, try it as an edible ground cover for other plants that prefer slightly basic soil. 

Characteristics

Some varieties of this vegetable grow to up to 1 foot. It puts on tons of tender edible stems and juicy leaves and flowers that are full of flavor. When it matures, it looks like a beautiful mustard green, with yellow flowers that attract pollinators. 

In the fall, the plant will complete its growing cycle and produce seed pods after its blooms are done. The plant will die back as soon as winter temperatures arrive.  

It usually takes around 45 days to mature. It has similar growing seasons and climate preferences to broccoli. You can find it in markets from spring to fall in most parts of the US. 

Native Area

Rapini’s origins likely date back thousands of years in Eurasia. Several varieties and cultivars were bred in Europe and it became a staple vegetable around the Mediterranean. It’s especially common in Italy, Spain, and Portugal. 

Italian immigrants likely brought the plant to the US. It is still a key ingredient in Italian American cuisine. Today, you can find it grown around the world and used in a huge variety of cuisines. 

Planting

This wonderful leafy green works remarkably in containers or raised beds. It’s very easy to grow and requires very little maintenance. 

Try growing it successively for bountiful harvests throughout the growing season. Plant it near other edible greens like broccoli and turnips for a productive edible garden. 

I love growing rapini in my victory garden. It’s a unique and versatile vegetable that adds some unique flavors and extra nutrition to a variety of dishes. 

Transplanting

Transplant starters and seedlings in well-drained soil. Be careful with the delicate root ball to avoid transplant shock. 

Add plenty of compost to the soil and plant up to the crown. Space them 6 to 12 inches apart to give them plenty of room to breathe. 

Remove all the weeds around your transplants so your rapini doesn’t have to compete for nutrients and water. Monitor your crops for transplant shock and keep their soil moist. 

Growing From Seed

Rapini broccoli rabe is easy to grow from seed. If you start your seeds inside, sow them 2 or 4 weeks before the last frost date. If you’re growing outside, sow them directly in the soil a month before the last frost date. 

Plant your seeds at a depth of ¼ inches. Add three seeds per 6 to 12 inches. Space your rows 18 to 24 inches apart to give your crops plenty of room to flourish. 

After about 7 to 14 days, you’ll see your first seedlings emerge from the soil. It takes about 45 days for rapini to mature. 

How to Grow

Growing this Mediterranean green is super easy, even for novice gardeners. All you need is the right soil, consistent light and water, and basic maintenance. This is one reason why this Italian staple is such a perfect fit for vegetable gardens. 

Light

Plant in areas of full sun to partial shade. If you’re growing your seeds in indoor containers, move them near a window with full sun. 

Outdoor beds should have full sun to partial shade. They will do well with afternoon shade provided by trees. 

Water

This delicious vegetable needs consistent watering throughout its growing season. Make sure not to overwater or create soggy soil. 

Like other similar vegetables in the Brassicaceae family, rapini plants can succumb to root rot quickly. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and your vegetables will thrive. 

Soil

Broccoli rabe enjoys well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH above 6.0. Use a light, loamy soil mixture. Amend with plenty of organic matter and compost. 

Make sure the topsoil is nice and loose. To keep moisture in, I prefer to mulch around my plants. This will help create a consistently moist ecosystem under your vegetables and keep weeds out. 

This plant benefits from crop rotation each growing season. This helps cut the risk of destructive pests and diseases from causing harm in your garden beds. 

Temperature and Humidity

This vegetable does well in hardiness zones 3 to 10. It can handle cold weather and even some frost late in the season. Ideal temperatures for rapini should range between 40 to 65°F (4-18°C). 

You can grow your greens in a variety of humidity levels, although less humidity is preferable. You may have trouble growing healthy crops in tropical areas with high heat and humidity.

Fertilizing

Like other leafy greens, rapini broccoli rabe is a moderate feeder that prefers a lot of nitrogen in the soil. It uses this extra energy to grow healthy, edible stems, leaves, and florets. 

Try using a manure or organic all-purpose fertilizer. Bone meal is another great plant food to consider. 

Fertilize your beds or containers before planting. Make sure you work the fertilizer into the soil well. Water your containers after fertilizing to remove any nutrient buildup that may damage your crops. 

Maintenance

If you’re a novice gardener, you’ll have no problem maintaining rapini broccoli rabe. Monitor your beds and containers for weeds. This plant doesn’t like competition and prefers having plenty of space to grow. Once your plants are mature, harvest as many greens and florets as you can. 

Propagation

The best way to propagate rapini is by seed. You can let some of your plants mature and produce seed pods. Once you see several seed pods, give them time to naturally dry. 

After they dry on the plant, clip the pods at their base. Bring them inside to a cool, dark area to give them more time to dry. After a few days, gently separate the seeds from the pods with your hands. 

The seeds should be viable for spring planting. Keep them in a cool, dry area until you’re ready to get them in the ground. 

Harvesting and Storage

Harvest your rapini in the morning when it’s at least a few inches tall. Morning harvests are best because the plant will have a better structure in the cooler weather. If you let the flower stalks form before harvesting, trim the budding shoots down to 5 inches when they’re at least 1 inch across. 

You should get one or two more flushes of florets before the end of the growing season. After you harvest the florets, leaves, and stems, store them in the refrigerator for up to a week. 

One of my favorite uses for the florets is in pickles and kimchi. They have a refreshing slightly bitter taste that goes with a variety of dishes. They’re also delicious in Japanese tempura and other fried dishes. 

Common Problems

Although rapini broccoli rabe is easy to grow, there are a few issues to consider. First, make sure you give your plants plenty of room to grow. Clustered plants will compete for nutrients. Plus, when foliage is growing too close together it can be the perfect environment for diseases. 

Keep up with harvesting and thin your plants frequently. Let the spaces between your rapini plants breathe. 

Like other species of Brassica plants, rotate your rapini plants between beds each season. This helps keep pests and diseases at bay. 

Pests

Common garden pests can be a nuisance for rapini, especially aphids. These troublesome insects cause the leaves to deform and curl up. They leave sticky honeydew and can diminish your harvests. They’re especially prevalent in the fall. 

The diamondback moth caterpillar is another pest to watch out for. It will chew holes in your tender plants and leave tiny cocoons hanging on the leaves. Whiteflies are also something to watch out for. They can cause stunted growth and yellowing leaves or even transfer harmful diseases to your plants. 

The first step in keeping these pests away is cultivating a healthy, growing environment for your plants. Encourage beneficial insects such as ladybugs and wasps. If the infection becomes severe, use insecticidal soap or neem oil spray to kill these harmful insects. 

Diseases

Like all garden plants, it’s important to monitor for diseases that can kill your crops. The most common disease in my garden is downy mildew. It spreads in moist and cool weather. Look for brown or yellow patches and mildew-like growth on the undersides of the leaves. 

Club root is another disease common in brassica plants like rapini. It’s caused by a fungus that lives in the soil. There’s no cure for club root, and infected plants will experience stunted growth and yellow leaves. 

The best way to prevent these diseases is by following best practices during the growing season. Water your plants in the morning and thin them out to create enough airflow. Never over water and always check for diseased plants nearby. 

Frequently Asked Questions