Kitchen Garden Forum

I decided to try growing some Cima di Rapa this year for the first time, and have successfully raised some from seed which I now have growing outside in the veg garden. They are about 30cm high now but have begun to flower. Isn't this too early? I presume I should remove the flowers so that they don't go to seed before I have time to pick the broccoli shoots.
Has anyone any experience with this vegetable who could advise, please?
Thanks.

Hi Columbine

You are cutting off the parts you should eat!

When did you sow them? There are varieties known in Italian as Quarantina and Sessantina - meaning ready to cut 40 and 60 days respectively after sowing.

Oh, I haven't actually cut off the flowers, I was just wondering if I should. But, obviously not. The variety is Quarantina, but unfortunately I cannot find the note I made of when I sowed them I will just keep an eye on them and hope to harvest some spears in due course.
Thanks.

Columbine in this heat everything is maturing much quicker, I planted some ruby chard which ran to seed before it reached a decent picking size and I did water it too.

Heat? What heat? I live in mid Wales and whilst most of the UK has been having heat-wave temperatures we have been lucky if the thermometer has reached 20C most days! Still wearing long-sleeves and pullovers .......
I get what you mean about the flowering, though, and will just have to see what happens with the Cima.
Thanks.