Broccoli Rabe is an annual or biennial grown for the harvest, ready about 42 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11. Its late spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the harvest is the prize. As a brassica (the cabbage family), give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
5-7
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
42
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What Broccoli Rabe is
Broccoli Rabe grows as an annual or biennial and reaches around a foot and a half at maturity. It blooms in late spring.
How to grow Broccoli Rabe
Broccoli Rabe grows in USDA zones 2 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 42 days after planting. Broccoli Rabe does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,000 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 40 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
50°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
42 days
Broccoli rabe / rapini; cool-season; bolts in heat.
OSU-PNW; Johnny's
GDD Required
1000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
40+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant broccoli rabe in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Broccoli Rabe prefers pH 5 to 7 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Broccoli Rabe is ready about 42 days after sowing (OSU-PNW; Johnny's). Watch for cultivar-specific ripeness cues and pick at peak.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — broccoli rabe isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Broccoli Rabe offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Broccoli Rabe thrives
On hardiness alone, broccoli rabe grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Broccoli Rabe growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Broccoli Rabe can grow in these states:
See if Broccoli Rabe will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether broccoli rabe actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Broccoli Rabe in my zone?
Broccoli Rabe grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Broccoli Rabe take to grow?
Broccoli Rabe is ready to harvest about 42 days after planting (OSU-PNW; Johnny's). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Broccoli Rabe?
Most growers plant broccoli rabe after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 40-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Broccoli Rabe need?
Broccoli Rabe needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Broccoli Rabe need?
Broccoli Rabe prefers soil pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Broccoli Rabe attract pollinators?
Yes — broccoli rabe's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Broccoli Rabe safe for pets?
Broccoli Rabe is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.