How to Grow Cima di Rapa
iNaturalist
Cima di Rapa
Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris
vegetableCima di rapa, also known as broccoli rabe or rapini, is an Italian leafy green vegetable with small florets and tender stems. It has a slightly bitter flavor and is rich in nutrients including vitamins A, C, and K. This cool-season crop is prized in Mediterranean cuisine and grows quickly, typically maturing in 50-70 days.
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Example Cima di Rapa timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Cima di Rapa
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Cima di Rapa
Around Jun 6≈ 50 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Cima di Rapa dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-9 as a cool-season crop; best planted in spring or fall
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Get my Cima di Rapa timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
7-10 daysTiny heart-shaped cotyledons emerge, followed by first true leaves with serrated edges
Keep soil consistently moist. Thin seedlings to proper spacing when 2-3 inches tall. Provide adequate light to prevent leggy growth.
Vegetative Growth
20-30 daysPlant develops multiple lobed leaves on sturdy stems; leafy canopy expands. No florets yet.
Water regularly and maintain consistent moisture. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Monitor for pests. Thin to final spacing if needed.
Floret Formation
10-15 daysSmall leafy broccoli-like florets begin to form at stem tips and leaf axils. Plant reaches near-full size.
Continue consistent watering and fertilizing. Provide steady temperatures (60-70°F ideal). Avoid heat stress which can cause bolting.
Harvest-Ready Maturity
Ready to harvestCentral floret cluster is tender, tightly formed, and 2-4 inches with leafy stems. Secondary florets develop along stems.
Harvest central head before flowers open. Continue harvesting side shoots for extended production over 3-4 weeks.
Secondary Sprouting
2-4 weeksAfter main head harvest, smaller secondary shoots develop along the stem for additional harvests
Continue watering and light fertilizing. Keep harvesting to encourage more side shoots. Use scissors to cut shoots 4-6 inches long.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Use row covers on young plants, hand-pick larvae, apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), or use neem oil
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Use row covers, apply neem oil or spinosad, dust with diatomaceous earth, maintain good air circulation
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Spray with strong water stream, use insecticidal soap, apply neem oil, encourage beneficial insects
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Hand-pick bugs and egg clusters, use row covers, apply neem oil, plant trap crops
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Use row covers, apply spinosad to soil at planting, use beneficial nematodes, rotate crops
Uses
Sautéed Side Dish & Pasta
CulinaryCima di rapa is a classic Italian dish sautéed with garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes, often served with pasta or alongside grilled meats. The tender florets and stems have a pleasant slight bitterness that complements rich foods. [source]
Fresh Salads & Blanching
CulinaryYoung, tender cima di rapa leaves and florets can be eaten raw in salads or quickly blanched for 2-3 minutes and dressed with vinaigrette. Blanching reduces bitterness while retaining nutritional value. [source]
Nutritional Powerhouse
MedicinalCima di rapa is exceptionally rich in vitamins A, C, K, and contains glucosinolates and indole compounds with potential anti-cancer properties. It provides minerals like calcium, iron, and potassium. [source]
Juice & Smoothies
HouseholdFresh cima di rapa can be juiced with apples or ginger for a nutrient-dense green juice, or blended into smoothies for a mineral boost with minimal bitterness. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeIf allowed to flower, cima di rapa produces delicate yellow flowers that attract bees and beneficial insects, making it valuable for supporting pollinator populations in the garden. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest the central floret cluster when it is 2-4 inches long and still tightly formed, before flower buds open. Cut or snap at the base of the cluster. Harvest in the morning for best flavor and tenderness. After removing the main head, continue harvesting tender side shoots that develop along the stem for 3-4 weeks of extended harvest. Use a sharp knife to cut shoots 4-6 inches long with attached leaves.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Cima di rapa is a traditional Italian vegetable dating back centuries, particularly popular in Calabria and other Southern Italian regions, where it's called 'friarielli' or 'broccoli di rabe'
- 🌱 Unlike true broccoli, cima di rapa is not a distinct cultivar but rather a wild form of turnip that was domesticated for its edible leaves and immature flowering shoots
- 🌱 The name 'cima di rapa' literally means 'turnip tops' in Italian, as it was traditionally the edible tops of turnips that farmers would harvest and eat before the roots matured
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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