Organic Farmer Network: Network Discussion Summary

Topic: Asian Greens
 
Favorite Asian Greens

Tatsoi -- Wiedigers use it for 40% of mixed green bunch for cooking. Definitely add Tatsoi. They direct seed it and cut it at 4”. Charlie cuts whole rosettes for restaurants. 

Wiedigers also like red or pink ribbed Mizuna from Abundant Life. Ken quit planting it.  

Ellen says Mispuna is like Mizuna on steroids 

Ken and Ellen really like to eat Tokyo Bekana. It makes a beautiful tall plant to sell as a stir-fry plant.  

Ellen loves Autumn Poem. The flower and succulent thin stem and greens are good. Wiedigers say it flowers so quickly that they thought it had bolted, but you want it to bloom. They sell it for $2.50 per bunch. 

Dwarf Ching Chiang from Turtle Tree is good. Wiedigers grow it in seed flat with 96 cells and transplant it every 6 inches. It’s very quick in and out. It gets big around at the base and about 6 or 7 inches tall at harvest. 

Ellen and Charlie direct seed Asian greens, then thin out as they go along. 

Elllen likes Mei Qing. 

Charlie likes Shuko. It has a little bit greener stem. He likes it better than Mei Qing. It does better in fall, but can do it in Spring. Shuko doesn’t get huge. He sells them whole to the restaurants to steam it whole.  

Asian customers like the green stem better than the white. But green stemmed, even sold as baby bok choi, don’t sell well for Mark in Fayetteville. Mark likes Joi Choi, which he can sell better than the green stem. Joi Choi is white stemmed.  

Wiedigers like Michihili. They grow it on 6” spacing in their high tunnel/ hoophouse  

Rubicon is way too big. Ellen cuts them in half and sells them right away. Will store 3 months without refrigeration.