Growing Broccoli Raab
Broccoli raab grows well in cool weather and fertile, well-drained soil. Like turnips and radishes, this vegetable should be planted directly in the garden in very early spring. You may want to consider using a raised planting bed to grow this vegetable. The soil in a raised bed will dry quicker than the soil in a regular garden bed, which means you can plant earlier. Sow broccoli raab seeds 2 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring. Cover seeds with ½ inch of fine soil and keep the soil evenly moist to ensure good germination. When seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall, thin them to stand 4 to 6 inches apart. For a continuous harvest, make several sowings of broccoli raab a week apart. Stop sowing in late spring because broccoli raab does not grow well in summer heat. Keep in mind that you can plant broccoli raab and other cool-season edibles in late summer for a delectable end-of-season harvest. Water newly planted seedlings regularly in late summer to encourage good growth. Prevent soil moisture evaporation by blanketing the ground around plants with a 2-inch-thick layer of finely shredded bark mulch. Harvest broccoli raab leaves and flowering stalks when they are 7 to 8 inches tall. At harvest the stalks should be tender and juicy, and the buds should be closed. After harvesting leaves and stalks, water plants well to encourage a second flush of growth and a second harvest in a few weeks.
