Growing Rapini or Broccoli Rabe

auna01 4/6/2011, 1:17 pm

I have never grown rapini in dirt or the SFG so I am not exactly certain how it looks when growing. Sio my question is in the SFG how many plants per square for Broccoli Rabe? TIA - A

auna01 4/7/2011, 11:54 am

Any ideas? Right now I started 4 per square, but I suspect that I will have to transplant the seedlings to make it 1 per square.

middlemamma 4/7/2011, 12:00 pm

I sure wish I could help you....I was hoping somone would answer this as well..this will be my first year trying it as well! Smile

Blackrose 4/7/2011, 12:41 pm

The best way to figure it out is to look on the seed packet to see what the spacing is and then go to your ALL NEW SFG book and find the handy dandy chart that lets you know how many to plant in each square based on that spacing.

I don't have my book beside me right now or I would post the chart for you.

**Furbalsmom** 4/7/2011, 12:44 pm

I checked several seed catalogs and most say the spread of the plant is 12 inches, so that would be 1 per square.

dizzygardener 4/7/2011, 4:58 pm

I've got mine going 9 per square. I know it sounds like a lot, but broccoli rabe tastes better as a young plant, so I have no intention of letting it grow to full size. Also, when I harvest the plant I cut away the whole thing instead of just taking a little from each plant.

BTW, my seed pack says to space them 6 inches apart which is 4 per square.

It grows pretty fast, so feel free to experiment with it.

gingeandhales 4/7/2011, 10:15 pm

dizzygardener wrote:I've got mine going 9 per square. I know it sounds like a lot, but broccoli rabe tastes better as a young plant, so I have no intention of letting it grow to full size. Also, when I harvest the plant I cut away the whole thing instead of just taking a little from each plant.

BTW, my seed pack says to space them 6 inches apart which is 4 per square.

It grows pretty fast, so feel free to experiment with it.

Do you direct sow or transplant? I just sowed some broccoli raab seeds last week and I was afraid I was too late, or should have done transplants instead. Do you think I will be okay?

I did 1 per square, but next time I will try to do 4. This is my absolute favorite vegetable!

dizzygardener 4/7/2011, 11:44 pm

I transplanted. Two were damaged by the wind, so I direct seeded some replacements. My pack says the DTM is 60 days and I harvest them a little early. I think you will have time to get at least one harvest before it gets too hot. On LI you might even be able to grow them year round.

gingeandhales 4/10/2011, 12:17 am

Thanks for your reply. I think I will start a few inside tomorrow just in case the four I direct sowed don't sprout. It has been one week and I see no signs of anything in my bed sprouting yet, but it has been a really cold week. Above freezing, but barely. It is supposed to get up to the 70s and they are even talking 80s early next week so that might speed things up a bit.

I'd love it if I can get it year round.

buttaflie143 4/10/2011, 12:38 am

auna01 wrote:I have never grown rapini in dirt or the SFG so I am not exactly certain how it looks when growing. Sio my question is in the SFG how many plants per square for Broccoli Rabe? TIA - A

Just curious :scratch: , what did you grow it in?

buttaflie143 4/10/2011, 12:39 am

never mind...i'm so silly.

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