Brassica rapa nipposinica
| Brassica rapa | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Life Cycle: | Biennial |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Late Summer |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Brassica rapa nipposinica (common name: mizuna)
Propagation: Seed - sow in situ or in a seed bed from April to September. Thinnings can be transplanted[1]. Some varieties can also be sown in a cold greenhouse in late autumn or early spring to provide leaves overwinter and in late spring.
Cultivation: Succeeds in full sun in most well-drained fertile soils[2]. Summer crops tolerate light shade[1]. Prefers a pH of 5.5 to 7[2]. Prefers a cool moist reasonably fertile soil[3]. The plant is shallow rooted and intolerant of drought, it needs to be grown in a moist fertile soil for the best quality leaves[1].
Fairly hardy, tolerating quite hard frosts, though plants are likely to die if this is coupled with wet weather[1]. Plants are also tolerant of summer heat[1].
Mizuna is widely cultivated in China for its edible leaves, there are many named varieties[1]. This plant is one of the most resistant to bolting of the oriental brassicas and can be sown in spring. It can also be planted in the summer for an autumn and winter crop[4]. Mizuna can also be transplanted successfully[1]. A fast growing plant, it can be cropped on a cut and come again basis just 2 - 3 weeks after sowing and has been known to continue cropping for 10 months before going to seed[1].
A very ornamental plant[1].
Range: A cultivar of garden origin.
Habitat: Not known in the wild.
Edibility: Leaves - raw or cooked[1]. They can be eaten at any stage from seedling to mature plant though older leaves become fibrous[1]. A very good salad, the leaves can also be cooked as greens or in soups etc[1]. The leaf stalks can also be eaten but require more cooking than the leaves[1]. It can be used as a cut and come again crop. regrowing rapidly after being harvested[1].
Immature flowering stems - cooked like broccoli[1]. A sweet flavour[1].
Pollinators: Bees, self
Habit: Biennial
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: B. rapa nipposinica.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 Larkcom, Joy. Oriental Vegetables. John Murray, 1991.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Larkcom, Joy. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn, 1980.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Vegetables. Macmillan Reference Books, 1995.