Brassicacées • Brassica rapa var. ruvo

Rapini Spring Raab - Bio

"An early broccoli rabe for cool spring mornings."

$4.49

Number of seeds 300 seeds

Rapini, also known as broccoli rabe, belongs to the large Brassica rapa group, cultivated for centuries around the Mediterranean basin. The Spring Raab variety is distinguished by its short growing cycle and its ability to quickly produce tender young shoots at the very beginning of the cool season.

In the garden, its upright habit, deeply cut leaves, and small, bud-like flower heads are reminiscent of miniature broccoli. Sown early, it thrives in still-moist soils and mild climates, growing into a beautiful, productive clump. In a harmonious vegetable garden, it's a welcome addition among spring greens, staggering harvests and providing a continuous food source.

Growing climate: Cool season
Sowing difficulty level: Easy
Care required: Occasional
Growth: Rapid growth

Annotation: Variety adapted to very early sowing in cool climates; bolting is favoured by heat.

Rapini is traditionally eaten as a leafy vegetable, and is highly valued in Italian, Portuguese, and Chinese cuisines. The tender stems, along with their small flower buds and a few leaves, are harvested.

It lends itself well to:

quickly sautéed in olive oil with garlic and chili pepper,
to blanching followed by frying in a pan,
for incorporation into pasta, pizzas or omelets.

The younger leaves can also be added raw in small quantities to mixed salads. For preservation, blanching followed by freezing allows you to enjoy the harvest later in the season.