cima di rapa (like sprouting broccoli) any tips??

[lynda66]

i've tried growing this twice now, once in july once in august, you're supposed to sow it in august apparently, anyway both times it's got to about 6 inches in height and gone straight to seed, every last one.

am i doing something wrong? all my broccoli and caulis have been grown the same way, in the bed next door...... and they are all looking great, is there something different i'm supposed to do?

[SarzWix]

You could try sowing it direct? I've never grown it, but perhaps it doesn't like it's roots to be restricted? Or, if you have been sowing it direct, try it in pots in the shade (I know, everything's in the shade at the mo )

[lynda66]

lol i sowed them direct, with plenty of room, i planted some mini caulis in the same bed, and they are doing fine, i haven't got any pots, hmmm maybe i'll just give up lol.

[SarzWix]

Seems very odd Try another sowing, watch them like a hawk, and as soon as anything shows which could be a flower bud nip it off so it has to grow some more to produce more shoots? Either that, or chuck 'em in the bin & chalk it up to experience

[lynda66]

i might chop off the flowers then and see what happens, they have only appeared today, it's just strange 4 leaves and flowers exactly the same as the last lot, i'm not that bothered i guess, i have plenty of other stuff, just like growing something different.

[PAULW]

LYNDA
I think you will find its this dodgy weather that is the problem, I grew it a couple of years ago found it grew well earlier in the year didnt like the heat/dry a bit like spinach, not that we have had much heat this year.

[lynda66]

its flipping annoying, it's the only thing i'm growing that's just gone straight to seed, it's not even attempted to grow properly ....... i think i'm gonna stick them in the norty corner.

[daylily]

Before you dump it Lynda, try and have a last go. It is actually more related to the turnip, than the broccoli, so think in those terms. You are wanting to harvest tiny flower bud sprouts from these plants, as early as they appear, summer growing of them was a disaster for me too, try nowish.

[Mozart321]

My mother in law brought some of these from Portugal, where they're called Nabo Greleiro, which means "Turnip Tops".
I was wondering when to so these as the packet has the dates for Portugal and not for the UK. I might try and sow some now.

[Birdie Wife]

Err, am i missing something? You WANT cima de rapa/broccoli raab to go to seed, because it's the flowering heads you want to eat - these can be produced very early. Mine never got big before they started flowering either, just keep picking the flowering heads and they keep producing them!

[lynda66]

so i'm supposed to eat the yellow flowers?? ...... theres about 10 on each plant on a stem, doesn't sound right to me......is now confuddled.

[lynda66]

My mother in law brought some of these from Portugal, where they're called Nabo Greleiro, which means "Turnip Tops".
I was wondering when to so these as the packet has the dates for Portugal and not for the UK. I might try and sow some now.

i'm not really sure, but i got them in a seed swap from another grape, who said plant them in august.

[Mozart321]

so i'm supposed to eat the yellow flowers?? ...... theres about 10 on each plant on a stem, doesn't sound right to me......is now confuddled.

If its similar to Sprouting Brocolli, which it seems, you are supposed to eat the flower heads BEFORE THEY OPEN so do not eat the yellow flowers, they should be eaten just before they get to this stage.

[lynda66]

that's just it, they dont get to that stage, they just grew the leaves then just shot up a stem about 4 inches taller than the leaves with flowers, there wasn't really an in between stage, the whole head bit is about 1/2 an inch across.

it never looked anythink like this GoneGardening.com - Turnip Top Cima di Rapa Novantina

[Snadger]

I am always wary of Italian veg as the North East of Englands climate is a far cry from Sorrento's!