My rapini is scaring me

Megan 6/7/2010, 9:07 pm

Just had to share this.

I harvested some more rapini last night, as that particular head was just starting to flower. Stuck it in a big bowl with some water to keep it fresh. As it turned out, I didn't end up cooking it that night... or tonight. Just looked at it now and it has literally sat up in the bowl. Shocked

It has bloomed and I swear it looks like it is ready to go another three rounds!

dmpower 6/7/2010, 9:13 pm

Megan wrote:Just had to share this.

I harvested some more rapini last night, as that particular head was just starting to flower. Stuck it in a big bowl with some water to keep it fresh. As it turned out, I didn't end up cooking it that night... or tonight. Just looked at it now and it has literally sat up in the bowl. It has bloomed and I swear it looks like it is ready to go another three rounds!

Just think of all the great nutrients that scary rapini is going to pass on to you. I am a little jealous as my rapini hasn't started to form heads yet. It is one of the few crops that I have actually done successive planting with. Ohhhhhhhh, I can't wait!!!

Megan 6/7/2010, 9:16 pm

It only just started to make heads. Only last week, I was thinking, "eating rapini leaves is great, but where are the heads?!" and suddenly over the weekend wham, there they were. Only they seem to be flowering very fast after they appear. Guess it is the heat? I am getting many more leaves than heads, as opposed to what I see in the stores. Still very tasty and I am not complaining!

Have you done succession planting into the summer with them?

I mean... seriously!!! I have cut a lot of greens in my time, but this is ridiculous. (In a good way.) I did not prop these up in any way. It did it all by itself.
My rapini is scaring me Photo-766781

Chopper 6/8/2010, 4:44 am

Live food. Maybe we have to make cages for our refrigerators now!

dmpower 6/8/2010, 1:51 pm

That's pretty spectacular!
Rapini is known to flower quickly. Everything I read, was to pick it quickly so I don't think yours is doing anything different - except of course the defence mechanism it is using in the bowl lol

Megan 6/8/2010, 5:57 pm

dmpower wrote:That's pretty spectacular!
Rapini is known to flower quickly. Everything I read, was to pick it quickly so I don't think yours is doing anything different - except of course the defence mechanism it is using in the bowl lol

I didn't know it flowered so quickly.... the rest of it is trying to now, too. I have heard a few people say you can "cut and come again"... do you take the whole plant and it comes back up, or take out some of the leaves and flowering stems and leave some of the leaves?

Marc Iverson 9/9/2014, 9:09 pm

I'm reading of people pulling the whole plant, and others cutting the flowering stems and leaving the rest of the plant alone. I'm curious if anyone goes after the flowering stems and also takes some of the leaves while waiting for new heads to sprout. The central stalk with the flowers on it, which I think is supposed to generate the biggest flower head, is still only a small part of the plant.

So I wonder if it would be a mistake to just let most of the plant eventually toughen up and yellow out just because I was waiting for a few flower stalks. I do read that raab/rabe/rapini is grown primarily for the leaves, but the harvest advice I read seems to revolve around going after the few small flower heads and waiting for one or two more.

Marc Iverson 9/15/2014, 3:54 am

Any feedback on this? It feels silly to let the nice big leaves go to waste.

Cats 1/13/2017, 5:03 pm

have enjoyed the discussion on the scary rapini. wondering how many per square foot?

**camprn** 1/13/2017, 8:19 pm

Cats wrote:have enjoyed the discussion on the scary rapini. wondering how many per square foot?

I would say 2. It can get to over 2 feet tall. See link for more specs.

https://myfolia.com/plants/1174-rapini-brassica-rapa-ruvo-group

**Scorpio Rising** 1/13/2017, 9:39 pm

Cats wrote:have enjoyed the discussion on the scary rapini. wondering how many per square foot?

Hi, Cats! Nice to see ya! I have had basil act really happy after cutting and placing it in a water jar, and I mean REALLY happy! Like growing?!?!?

But I have no experience with rapini, what is it like? Do you eat the leaves? It is pretty! And, um, scary, too! My rapini is scaring me 3170584802

Cats 1/13/2017, 9:49 pm

Not sure how to describe Rapini except I love the stuff. chop a bit and throw in a pan with oilve oil and garlic. DIVINE. Jim Lahey's pizza with white sauce and chopped rapini - to die for. does that help? LOL

**Scorpio Rising** 1/14/2017, 11:08 am

Cats wrote:Not sure how to describe Rapini except I love the stuff. chop a bit and throw in a pan with oilve oil and garlic. DIVINE. Jim Lahey's pizza with white sauce and chopped rapini - to die for. does that help? LOL

Yes! Sounds delish!

Cats 1/14/2017, 11:27 am

Lovely quote and as gardeners it serves to remind us that the earth needs maintaining, and fixing these days.

**Scorpio Rising** 1/14/2017, 11:29 am

Thanks, Cats! That is exactly how I see it. My rapini is scaring me 3170584802

Cats 1/14/2017, 11:54 am

maybe someday. You must be an "honourary" Canadian - or Aussie LOL
Take care. blessings

**sanderson** 1/14/2017, 4:32 pm

Questions. Is it really spicy, as in mustard spicy. Is it a cool weather plant like broccoli and cauliflower? Finally, do bees like the flowers like they do bolted broccoli? Thanks

**camprn** 1/14/2017, 5:43 pm

sanderson wrote:Questions. Is it really spicy, as in mustard spicy. Is it a cool weather plant like broccoli and cauliflower? Finally, do bees like the flowers like they do bolted broccoli? Thanks

No, it tastes like broccoli, for the most part.yes it's growing requirements are similar ( see the link to my folia that I posted above). Yes, the bees and other pollinators like the blossoms.
And I like it too. Very Happy

Cats 1/14/2017, 7:42 pm

I am going to assume that, yes, it is like broccoli and cauliflower re: seasons. Here it was doing well during the dry season - which is your summer - and I am about to re-seed so will see if it survives the rainy times - as in your winter .

**Scorpio Rising** 1/15/2017, 10:42 pm

Cats wrote: maybe someday. You must be an "honourary" Canadian - or Aussie LOL
Take care. blessings

I would be honored by that! cheers

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