Broccoli Rabe (Raab) in Zone 5a & 5b

Brassica rapa var. ruvo

Yes, broccoli rabe (raab) grows in zones 5a and 5b. Plant it outside Apr 19–Apr 26.

When to plant broccoli rabe (raab) in zone 5b

Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.

Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.

Start indoors	Not typically started indoors
Direct sow / transplant outside	Apr 19–Apr 26
Estimated harvest	Jun 3–Jun 10 (~45 days after direct-sowing)

Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.

Full broccoli rabe (raab) profile · Companion planting guide · Zone 5b planting calendar

Plant alongside it in zone 5b

These go outside within two weeks of broccoli rabe (raab) in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.

OnionApr 19–Apr 26
CarrotApr 19–Apr 26
CabbageApr 26–May 3
LettuceApr 26–May 3
BeetApr 19–Apr 26
MizunaApr 19–Apr 26

Broccoli rabe, also spelled raab, isn't a true broccoli despite the name. It's a leafier, faster, more pungent brassica grown for its young leaves, stems, and small flower buds all together, with a distinctly bitter, mustardy edge closer to a turnip green than standard broccoli.

How broccoli rabe (raab) fits zone 5's season

Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Broccoli rabe (raab) needs about 45 days from sowing to first harvest.

Broccoli Rabe (Raab) planting windows in every zone

Zone 5b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.

Zone	Start indoors	Sow or plant out	Harvest
2a & 2b	Not usually	Apr 29–May 6	Jun 13–Jun 20
3a & 3b	Not usually	May 9–May 16	Jun 23–Jun 30
4a & 4b	Not usually	Apr 24–May 1	Jun 8–Jun 15
5a & 5b (your zone)	Not usually	Apr 19–Apr 26	Jun 3–Jun 10
6a & 6b	Not usually	Apr 4–Apr 11	May 19–May 26
7a & 7b	Not usually	Mar 20–Mar 27	May 4–May 11
8a & 8b	Not usually	Mar 4–Mar 11	Apr 18–Apr 25
9a & 9b	Not usually	Jan 25–Feb 1	Mar 11–Mar 18
10a & 10b	Not usually	Jan 9–Jan 16	Feb 23–Mar 2
11a & 11b	Not usually	Dec 11–Dec 18	Jan 25–Feb 1

Harvest dates are about 45 days after the sow or plant-out date.

Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.

Good companions

Radish: Radish (including the daikon form) is a documented trap crop for flea beetles, which prefer its mustard oils over other brassicas and can be sacrificed or pulled once infested: the same research cited on the radish page. This is exactly the pest its own placement note already flags as hitting the crop hard.

Where to buy broccoli rabe seeds

Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:

'Spring Raab' broccoli rabe (best for season-long planting): Johnny's Selected Seeds describes this as the most versatile broccoli raab for growing throughout the season, a hybrid alternative to De Cicco where a longer sowing window matters more than heirloom status. Buy: Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing broccoli rabe (raab)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

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Growing Broccoli Rabe (Raab) in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.

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