leafy · direct sow
Rapini (Broccoli Raab): how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating rapini (broccoli raab) a few times a week needs about 89 plants in ~45 sq ft, worth about $89 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 23 | ~12 sq ft | ~43 | ~$23 |
| 2 people | 45 | ~23 sq ft | ~83 | ~$45 |
| 4 people | 89 | ~45 sq ft | ~163 | ~$89 |
| 6 people | 133 | ~67 sq ft | ~244 | ~$133 |
Spacing
6" in row · 12" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
50 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Mar 26 – Apr 25 | Jun 22 – Aug 1 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 21 – Apr 20 | Jul 2 – Aug 11 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 11 – Apr 10 | Jul 12 – Aug 21 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 1 – Mar 31 | Jul 22 – Aug 31 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 14 – Mar 16 | Aug 1 – Sep 10 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 3 – Mar 5 | Aug 22 – Oct 1 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 1 – Jan 31 | Sep 11 – Oct 21 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 12 – Jan 11 | Sep 21 – Oct 31 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Cut when flower buds form but are still tight and green, like tiny broccoli, with 6 to 8 inches of tender stem.
Don't wait: Open yellow flowers mean bitter and woody, you have about 2 days once buds show.
Yield
About 0.25 bunchs per plant over ~3 productive weeks (~0.25 lb). Re-sow every ~14 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Cabbage worms & loopers · Aphids · Flea beetles · Black rot · Cabbage root maggot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with garlic, onion, carrot, beet. Keep away from tomato, tomato, tomato.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
22 kcal · 2.7 g fiber · 20.2 mg vitamin C · 196 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Rapini (Broccoli Raab) planting questions
How many rapini (broccoli raab) plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 23 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 89 plants, which takes around 45 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does rapini (broccoli raab) need?+
Space plants 6" apart in the row with 12" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant rapini (broccoli raab)?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing rapini (broccoli raab) worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~0.25 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $89 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.