Broccoli Raab Seeds – Rapini (Brassica rapa)

Grow a quick crop of flavorful greens with broccoli raab, also known as rapini. This Italian kitchen favorite produces tender leaves, stems, and small broccoli-like flower buds with a mustard-like flavor and a pleasant hint of bitterness. Sauté a fresh harvest with olive oil and garlic, toss it through pasta, or serve it alongside potatoes.

Crop Highlights

• Botanical name: Brassica rapa.
• Harvest: Tender leaves, stems, and unopened flower buds rather than a large central broccoli head.
• Season: Best grown in cool weather, with spring and fall sowings suited to local conditions.
• Maturity: Approximately 40–60 days, depending on conditions and harvest stage.
• Growth: Plants may reach approximately 30 inches tall if allowed to mature.

Available Pack Sizes

• 100 seeds
• Packet: 300 seeds
• 1/4 oz
• 1 oz
• 4 oz
• 1 lb

Select your preferred size before adding to cart. Bulk packs are sold by weight, not a guaranteed seed count. This listing is for seeds, not live plants.

Planting Guide

Direct sow in early spring or late summer for a fall harvest, adjusting dates to your climate. Hot weather can cause plants to flower quickly, so plan for cool growing conditions. In mild climates, fall-sown plants may overwinter.

Prepare fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost. Sow thinly in rows 12–24 inches apart and thin seedlings to approximately 6 inches apart. Keep the seedbed evenly moist while plants establish. Small successive sowings can help spread out the harvest.

Growing and Care

Maintain consistent moisture and reduce weed competition. Choose a sunny location; some afternoon shade can help in warmer conditions. Monitor plants closely as flower buds form, since the best harvest window can be brief.

Harvesting

Harvest leafy shoots while the flower buds are still closed, often when plants are approximately 10–15 inches tall. Cut where the stems are tender rather than woody. Leaving lower leaves intact may allow additional shoots to develop under favorable conditions. Young leaves can also be harvested earlier.

Kitchen Use and Storage

Steam or sauté rapini, add it to pasta and potato dishes, or prepare it as cooked greens. For the freshest texture, harvest close to mealtime. Refrigerate unwashed greens loosely bagged and use within approximately 3–5 days. For longer storage, blanch and freeze.