Comments on: Getting Down to the Brassicas http://mixedgreensblog.com/2008/04/21/seasons-eatings/getting-down-to-the-brassicas/ Living Sustainably in the Pacific Northwest Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:41:32 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bob Weeks http://mixedgreensblog.com/2008/04/21/seasons-eatings/getting-down-to-the-brassicas/comment-page-1/#comment-1686 Bob Weeks Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:52:16 +0000 http://mixedgreensblog.com/2008/04/21/uncategorized/getting-down-to-the-brassicas/#comment-1686 Marke, I have not purchased raab seeds for a couple of years but in the past I have been able to find them at the West Seattle Nursery or True Value Hardware. Territorial Seeds has a few varieties, Zamboni and Sorento. You can order from their website: http://www.territorialseed.com/prod_detail_list/s. They are quite easy to grow. They take about six weeks, or more in the colder months, and you can plant the seed most any month except in the heart of winter. My main mistakes have been to plant seed too close, and then to not notice that they are ready to eat. Best to thin to maybe 3 inches apart (eat the thinnings!) They sprout fast, and bolt fast. I would not buy raab plants because they are so easy to start from seed, and if they have been in the pot too long they will sprout before they get very large. Right now I am eating flowerettes from kale that has over-wintered and is bolting, that look and taste a lot like raab. There is a lot of it and it keeps coming for several weeks. Delicious. You might ask what kind of seed the vender you bought the raab from was using. Have fun! If you don't have the Tilth Garden Guide, I highly recommend it. PCC carries it. It has month by month suggestions on what to plant etc. Marke,
I have not purchased raab seeds for a couple of years but in the past I have been able to find them at the West Seattle Nursery or True Value Hardware. Territorial Seeds has a few varieties, Zamboni and Sorento. You can order from their website: http://www.territorialseed.com/prod_detail_list/s.
They are quite easy to grow. They take about six weeks, or more in the colder months, and you can plant the seed most any month except in the heart of winter. My main mistakes have been to plant seed too close, and then to not notice that they are ready to eat. Best to thin to maybe 3 inches apart (eat the thinnings!) They sprout fast, and bolt fast. I would not buy raab plants because they are so easy to start from seed, and if they have been in the pot too long they will sprout before they get very large.
Right now I am eating flowerettes from kale that has over-wintered and is bolting, that look and taste a lot like raab. There is a lot of it and it keeps coming for several weeks. Delicious.
You might ask what kind of seed the vender you bought the raab from was using.
Have fun! If you don’t have the Tilth Garden Guide, I highly recommend it. PCC carries it. It has month by month suggestions on what to plant etc.

]]> By: Marke Schnackenberg http://mixedgreensblog.com/2008/04/21/seasons-eatings/getting-down-to-the-brassicas/comment-page-1/#comment-1679 Marke Schnackenberg Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:39:56 +0000 http://mixedgreensblog.com/2008/04/21/uncategorized/getting-down-to-the-brassicas/#comment-1679 For Bob Weeks and anyone who might assist me to grow raab. After visiting the WS Market this past 4-26 and buying two varieties of raab, I was delighted by their flavors in the raw state and slightly cooked with olive oil and garlic. Bob W. would you might helping this west seattle novice gardener with a lead for seeds or plants for Raabs to grow? Thanks all. For Bob Weeks and anyone who might assist me to grow raab.

After visiting the WS Market this past 4-26 and buying two varieties of raab, I was delighted by their flavors in the raw state and slightly cooked with olive oil and garlic.

Bob W. would you might helping this west seattle novice gardener with a lead for seeds or plants for Raabs to grow?

Thanks all.

]]> By: Langdon Cook http://mixedgreensblog.com/2008/04/21/seasons-eatings/getting-down-to-the-brassicas/comment-page-1/#comment-234 Langdon Cook Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:26:13 +0000 http://mixedgreensblog.com/2008/04/21/uncategorized/getting-down-to-the-brassicas/#comment-234 Good to know! I've been topping our kale in a mad effort to prolong the winter batch until our spring planting is ready, but composting the florets. I'll try stir-frying 'em up instead tonight. Good to know! I’ve been topping our kale in a mad effort to prolong the winter batch until our spring planting is ready, but composting the florets. I’ll try stir-frying ‘em up instead tonight.

]]> By: Audrey http://mixedgreensblog.com/2008/04/21/seasons-eatings/getting-down-to-the-brassicas/comment-page-1/#comment-233 Audrey Tue, 22 Apr 2008 05:08:31 +0000 http://mixedgreensblog.com/2008/04/21/uncategorized/getting-down-to-the-brassicas/#comment-233 Thanks for the tip! I saw the raab at Nash's this weekend and was just about beside myself. I've been throwing out the flower stems from our overwintered collards and kale, assuming they would be bitter. Good to know just how edible they are. Thanks for the tip! I saw the raab at Nash’s this weekend and was just about beside myself. I’ve been throwing out the flower stems from our overwintered collards and kale, assuming they would be bitter. Good to know just how edible they are.

]]> By: Bob Weeks http://mixedgreensblog.com/2008/04/21/seasons-eatings/getting-down-to-the-brassicas/comment-page-1/#comment-231 Bob Weeks Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:58:17 +0000 http://mixedgreensblog.com/2008/04/21/uncategorized/getting-down-to-the-brassicas/#comment-231 An alternative: We have several plants in the garden that are now flowering: broccoli, various kales, brussel sprouts, cabbage, arugula, mizuna. This is a great time of year to 'graze' in the garden. I don't have to bend over as the flower heads really are 'shoots', shooting for the sky as the plant bolts. Just pick and eat. They never make it to the table. Or if grazing doesn't get them all, cook like you suggested, and throw in a frittata. Thanks! An alternative: We have several plants in the garden that are now flowering: broccoli, various kales, brussel sprouts, cabbage, arugula, mizuna. This is a great time of year to ‘graze’ in the garden. I don’t have to bend over as the flower heads really are ’shoots’, shooting for the sky as the plant bolts. Just pick and eat. They never make it to the table. Or if grazing doesn’t get them all, cook like you suggested, and throw in a frittata.
Thanks!

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