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James H. Schutte
Brassicaceae
Brassica rapa( Narinosa Group)
Tat Soi, Tatsoi
The Narinosa group of Brassica rapa is commonly referred to as tatsoi (tat soi), also known as flat pac choy. This delicious leafy vegetable forms compact, flat clusters of spoon-shaped leaves with thick leaf stalks. It matures quickly, 21 days for baby greens and 45 days for full heads, and has a fresh, crisp flavor and texture. It is one of several Brassica rapa types which are Eurasian in origin but now cultivated worldwide.
This cool-season, biennial vegetable forms tight rosettes of dark green leaves with lighter stalks and midribs. It can be harvested young for baby greens or allowed to mature into fully formed, flat heads. It is usually harvested before it can flower but if left to its own devices will produce tall sprays of bright yellow flowers in spring or summer of its second year. Rattlebox seed capsules follow, which open to scatter many reddish-brown to black seeds.
Grow tatsoi when temperatures are cool and pleasant. It grows best in full sun and moderately fertile, slightly acid soil with ample drainage. Sow seeds in early spring before temperatures heat up or in late summer for fall harvest. It makes an excellent winter crop in subtropical areas with cool winters. Hot weather may cause rosettes to flower ("bolt"), which results in bitter-tasting, dwindling plants. These brassicas are frost hardy and many can withstand a few degrees below freezing. They are not heavy feeders and may not need fertilizer if grown in rotation with nitrogen-fixing legumes.
Tatsoi is very tasty and nutritious. Use the young leaves in salads and sauté, steam, or stir fry the mature leaves.
11 - 1
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun, Partial Sun
4"-12" / 10.2cm - 30.5cm
8"-16" / 20.3cm - 40.6cm
Late Spring, Early Summer
Europe, Asia
Acidic, Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Fast
Average Water
Rosette/Stemless
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Showy
Yellow
Tan, Brown, Sienna
White, Green, Dark Green
No
Single
Medium
Matte
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Butterflies
Yes
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