Asian Greens Seeds - Tatsoi
$3.25
Brassica rapa
This close cousin of Bok Choy grows the most stunning rosette of elegant, dark green, spoon-shaped leaves on slender white stems. It’s easy to see why it has the nickname “spoon mustard” in some places. These greens have a delicate texture with a little crunch, and are excellent in salads, quickly wilted in a stir fry, or added to a soup at the end of cooking.
Direct seed or transplant tatsoi into the garden in early spring or late summer. Prefers full sun and well-draining soil. Water well to ensure good germination. Once germinated, tatsoi will need at least an inch of water per week. This crop can be harvested at any stage of growth but will reach maturity at approximately 14 inches tall. Annual.
- Product Information
- Growing Information
- Seed Saving
| Min. Seeds / Packet | Packet Weight | Planting Season | Planting Method |
| 350 | 2 g | spring and fall | direct-sow or transplant |
| Seed Depth | Direct Seed Spacing | Soil Temp. Range | Days to Sprout |
| 1/4" | 1" | 50-80 ℉ | 3-12 |
| Mature Spacing | Sun Requirement | Frost Tolerance | Days to Harvest |
| 6-8" | full sun | very tolerant | 45 |
Greens come in different varieties ranging in color, texture, and shape of leaves. These varying types of greens come from different regions of the world, including Asia, Africa, and the Southeastern US. Most greens grow best in moist, rich soil. To prepare the soil for planting, spread compost over the planting area, about 3” thick. Carefully turn the compost into the ground with a digging fork, loosening the soil.
With a few exceptions like molokhia, amaranth, and summer spinach, all other varieties of greens (sold by Sow True Seed) thrive in cooler temperatures and do not grow well in summer. Aim to start seeds about four weeks before the last frost. Fall plantings can tolerate frost, which actually contributes to a sweeter flavor to the greens.
Plant seeds just under the soil, about a half an inch apart. Once the seedlings sprout and grow their first leaves, thin them to about 8-12” apart. Your baby greens are delicious, eat your thinnings!
Keep soil moist as they grow, at least an inch of water per week. Greens can be eaten at any stage, for cut and come again harvesting, pull a few leaves at a time from the outside of your plants and allow the main plants to continue to grow. When the plants are fully mature, you should cut the whole head at the base with a sharp knife.
Your spring plantings will likely get bitter and/or bolt in the heat of summer, so harvest before that time and use the garden space for something else.
Tatsoi, Brassica rapa
Pollination, insect; Life Cycle, annual; Isolation Distance, ½ mile
Tatsoi will not cross with other Brassicae besides Brassica rapa. The seed pods mature from the bottom upwards and shatter easily, so it's best to cut the whole plant just before maturity and hand to dry in a cool, dry place. When whole plant is crispy-dry, thresh the seeds and winnow to clean.