Brassica 'Cima di Rapa'

RHS Plant Profile
broccoli 'Cima di Rapa'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Brassica 'Cima di Rapa'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Annual Biennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

An annual mediterranean vegetable also known as 'Broccoli Rab' or 'Rapini' which can be translated as 'Turnip Greens'. It has long, serrated green leaves with edible florets hidden randomly amongst the foliage, similar to sprouting broccoli. Eaten when the heads are young, they taste like a cross between spinach and broccoli but also have a tangy, mustard-like taste more similar to a turni[. Easy to grow and requires little space, so good for pots and containers. If regular sowings are made, can be harvested from May through to October

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Clump forming
Genus
Brassicas can be annual, biennial or perennial plants, most are upright with alternate, often glaucous leaves, long taproots and clusters of cross-shaped, yellow or white flowers. The genus includes a number of species bred to produce food crops, such as cabbages, turnips, mustards and oilseed rape, as well as others grown for their ornamental value
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Sow seed in fertile, moisture-retentive soil in a sheltered, sunny location. Harvest when young, before the buds open. See broccoli cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Architectural
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to cabbage caterpillars, cabbage whitefly, aphids, flea beetles and slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to black rot, downy mildew, foot and root rot, grey mould, leaf spot and white blister