I'd like to try broccoli raab as a fall crop. Have never grown it before. I'm getting ready to sow some seed for transplants in Aug. I've read that if it can be wintered over, it develops a sweeter flavor. What's the lowest temp the plants can take? I'm not adverse to freezing it if I get lucky with a nice little harvest.

Since no one else has tried, I will attempt. Broccoli raab is basicly a non bulbing turnips with an extra large flower stalk. I have not attempted to test the cold temp of raab limits but both turnips and regular broccoli succumb at about 22 degrees Fahrenheit.

Yes I was thinking myself that in zone 5 nothing annual is going to overwinter.

Thanks for your input! I knew it wouldn't survive my winter out in the open but was wondering what its limits were. I do have a tall cold frame that DH constructed last year. It's pretty air tight and has twin wall poly panels in it. I put rigid styrofoam along the sides and put large rocks in it to hold some heat. He also found a handy plug with a built-in thermostat that will turn on the power to a 60-watt light bulb when a preset low temp is reached (22 degrees). It will turn off the power when an high temp of approx 34 degrees is reached. A little computer fan keeps the air circulating. I can also pile on rigid styrofoam on the top covered with a blanket to trap more heat. It did keep potted kale viable (although not growing) all winter. Since I grow most of my produce in pots, I was thinking of stashing some of the more cold-tolerant stuff in the cold frame. Growing through to New Year's might be doable.

Ach! Sowed the seed and left the cell packs in the little GH. Of course, they've already sprouted (in 2 days) but felt that they shouldn't remain in a 100+ degree GH (with 2 fans running, shade cloth, open door and 3 open vents). I've moved them indoors into a partially sunny window to keep them cool until next week when the daytime temps will only be in the 80's. Next will be some kale.

My seedlings are pretty leggy. Between trying to keep them cool and getting them enough sunlight, they've gotten pretty lanky. Can the seedlings be planted deeper than they grew in the cell packs? I know some things can and some things can't. TIA

I think they can as I have done that with leggy Broccoli seedlings.

Thanks, Rita. They're getting their true leaves and I need to thin them in the cell packs but I want to make sure I leave the shorter ones for planting. They sprouted in two days and left me totally surprised and unprepared. This past week, either they bake in the sun where it's hot or they come indoors where it's cool. No happy medium this time of year.