Sorrento Broccoli Raab is a speedy Italian heirloom that matures in just 40 to 49 days, making it one of the quickest broccoli varieties you can grow. This open-pollinated Brassica thrives in zones 3 through 10 and reaches a compact 14 to 16 inches tall, ideal for small spaces and succession planting. Plant it in late summer for an early fall harvest or in early spring for a late spring crop, and you'll appreciate its remarkable heat tolerance, it won't bolt even when temperatures climb.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
16in H x ?in W
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High
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Sorrento races from seed to harvest faster than its broccoli cousins, delivering tender florets in under seven weeks. This heirloom won't abandon you during warm spells; it's engineered to stay productive when heat would send other brassicas to flower prematurely. The compact plant fits neatly into tight garden beds, and its open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seeds year after year, connecting you directly to the gardening traditions that brought this Italian cultivar to life.
Sorrento's tender shoots and flowering heads are harvested and prepared much like broccoli, though the plant yields thinner, more delicate stems and abundant leafy greens alongside the central florets. It shines in quick stir-fries where its mild flavor and tender texture absorb garlic, olive oil, and heat beautifully. The entire edible portion, florets, stems, and leaves, works well blanched and dressed with lemon, incorporated into pasta dishes, or sautéed as a simple green side. Its speed from seed makes it particularly valuable for extending the broccoli season in both spring and fall, filling gaps when other varieties aren't ready.
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Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your desired transplant date, keeping soil temperature between 55 and 70°F for reliable germination. Sow at a depth of approximately 1/4 inch and keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge. Once true leaves appear, provide bright light and good air circulation to prevent damping off and develop sturdy transplants.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant after the last frost date or as soon as soil can be worked in spring, spacing plants 12 inches apart. For fall crops, transplant in mid to late summer so plants mature before heavy frosts arrive.
You can direct sow seeds outdoors once soil reaches 55°F. Plant seeds approximately 1/4 inch deep and 6 inches apart, then thin seedlings to final spacing of 12 inches once they develop true leaves. Direct sowing in late summer produces the most reliable early fall harvests.
Begin harvesting when the central floret head forms and reaches 2 to 3 inches across, typically 40 to 49 days after sowing. Cut the main head with 2 to 3 inches of stem using a sharp knife, and the plant will often produce smaller secondary shoots along the stems that can be harvested in the following weeks. Harvest in the morning when shoots are firm and cool, and continue picking to encourage further branching. The entire tender shoot, including the thin stems and attached leaves, is edible.
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“Sorrento Broccoli Raab carries the lineage of Brassica rapa var. ruvo, a Mediterranean vegetable with deep roots in Italian gardening culture. As an open-pollinated heirloom, this variety represents generations of seed saving and selection by home gardeners and regional farmers who prized its speed, reliability, and heat tolerance. Unlike modern hybrids bred for uniformity in industrial agriculture, Sorrento embodies the practical wisdom of gardeners who needed crops that would thrive in variable seasons and return predictable harvests within tight windows.”