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Cima di Rapa Sessantina (Broccoli Rabe)
Brassica rapa
Rapini, Rabe, Cima di Rapa, Friarielli, or Broccoletti - whatever you call it, this flavorful spring, summer, and fall vegetable is delicious! It is widely eaten in southern Italy, as well as in parts of Spain and Portugal. Cima di Rapa Sessantina is named as a 60 day variety but you can eat it's smaller succulent thinnings sooner than that. Plants grow 12-18" tall with thick stems and bitter-sweet foliage and florets. All plants are ready for harvest at about the same time, so plant in successions for continual harvest. This variety was made available by Seeds from Italy, the US distributor of Franchi Seeds, Italy's oldest family-owned seed company, founded in 1783. Check them out for more Italian varieties! www.growitalian.com.
Days to Maturity: 60
Seeds per pack: 200
Germination rate: 91% on 01/11/2024
Planting / harvesting notes
Seed every 1" in rows 8-12" apart, 1/4-1/2" deep. Keep watered until germination. Thin to every 6".
Seed keeping notes
Isolate by 1/2 mile from other flowering members of B. rapa, including turnips, napa cabbage, and bok choy to avoid unwanted cross-pollination. Allow seed pods to turn brown and dry before seed harvest. Protect from birds.
