Brassica rapa nipposinica
Mizuna
a biennial member of the Brassica genus in the family Brassicaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Brassicaceae
- Genus
- Brassica
- Life cycle
- biennial
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 0.25 m
- Spread
- 0.45 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Self
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - raw or cooked[2]. They can be eaten at any stage from seedling to mature plant though older leaves become fibrous[2]. A very good salad, the leaves can also be cooked as greens or in soups etc[2]. The leaf stalks can also be eaten but require more cooking than the leaves[2]. It can be used as a cut and come again crop. regrowing rapidly after being harvested[2]. Immature flowering stems - cooked like broccoli[2]. A sweet flavour[2].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
Environment
- Range
- A cultivar of garden origin.
- Habitat
- Not known in the wild.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow in situ or in a seed bed from April to September. Thinnings can be transplanted[2]. 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
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in full sun in most well-drained fertile soils[1]. Summer crops tolerate light shade[2]. Prefers a pH of 5.5 to 7[1]. Prefers a cool moist reasonably fertile soil[4]. The plant is shallow rooted and intolerant of drought, it needs to be grown in a moist fertile soil for the best quality leaves[2]. Fairly hardy, tolerating quite hard frosts, though plants are likely to die if this is coupled with wet weather[2]. Plants are also tolerant of summer heat[2]. Mizuna is widely cultivated in China for its edible leaves, there are many named varieties[2]. 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[3]. Mizuna can also be transplanted successfully[2]. 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[2]. A very ornamental plant[2].
References
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0 333 62640 0
Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00