Plant DetailShow Menu

Brassica rapa (Ruvo Group) is often confused with:
Brassica napus Brassica Napus
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Brassica rapa (Chinensis Group) Brasscia rapa (Chinensis Group)
Eruca vesicaria Eruca vesicaria
Allium schoenoprasum Form

Rabe Brassica rapa (Ruvo Group)

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
BRAS-ih-ka RAY-puh
Description

This group includes Broccoli Raab, Rapini, Broccoletti, and Broccoletti di Rape and are in the mustard family. The plants resemble broccoli but the edible buds are in small clusters rather than one large one. Also, the leaves are more like turnip greens and the flavor is more pungent.

These are cool-season plants and can be planted for a spring or fall crop. Seeds can be planted in early spring and harvested for greens or allowed to mature. For mature plants, harvest just before the flower buds begin to open. For a fall crop, plant seeds mid to late summer. Row covers may help decrease insect damage. 

Plant in fertile moist well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Keep seedlings evenly moist and continue to water during dry spells. 

Problems, Pests and Diseases: aphids, whiteflies, flea beetles, and caterpillars such as cabbage loopers, cutworms, and beet armyworms. Slugs and snails may also be a problem. Diseases include club root, white rust, leaf spot, and rots such as damping off and bacterial soft rot.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#edible plant#edible flowers#vegetable garden#vegetable#cool season vegetable#problem for horses
 
Brasscia rapa (Ruvo Group)
Harvested florets, eaten as a vegetable MK Campbell CC BY-NC 2.0
Brasscia rapa (Ruvo Group)
Florets and stems Forest and Kim Starr CC BY 2.0
Brasscia rapa (Ruvo Group)
Seedlings graibeard CC-BY-SA 2.0
Brasscia rapa (Ruvo Group)
4 petaled yellow flowers (late spring) Kathleen Moore CC BY 4.0
Brasscia rapa (Ruvo Group)
Immature fruits (early summer) Kathleen Moore CC BY 4.0
Brasscia rapa (Ruvo Group)
Leaf with signs of copper deficiency Forest and Kim Starr CC BY 2.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#edible plant#edible flowers#vegetable garden#vegetable#cool season vegetable#problem for horses
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Brassica
    Species:
    rapa
    Family:
    Brassicaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe
    Edibility:
    Stems, leaves and buds are edible raw or cooked
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Vegetable
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cross
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small clusters of green flower buds should be picked before opening. They will open to a 4-petaled yellow flower.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Bright lime green leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Problems:
    Problem for Horses