Asian Greens

Asian Greens add superb and often subtle flavours to salads with many being used in stir-fries. Most can be sown at high density and used as a cut-and-come-again crop. Try growing Asian Green vegetables like Bok Choi, Tatsoi,  Choy Sum, Chinese cabbage, Rocket and Pak Choi. General growing advice can be found below but please always refer to the back of your seed packet for specific growing advice for your chosen variety.

When to sow Asian greens: Many Asian greens can be sown all year round depending on your climate. They grow exceptionally well during the cool Autumn months in Australasia. Plants sown in stressful conditions may bolt quite quickly.

Soil preparation and location: Asian Greens enjoy a fertile rich soil that is also free draining. Adding some all-purpose garden compost will improve the fertility and structure of your garden soil. Asian Greens generally prefer a neutral soil pH of around 7. Choose an area in your garden that has at least 6 hours of full sun a day or more. If you experience cold winters with frosts consider growing your plants inside a hothouse during these months. 

Germination: Asian Green seeds germinate relatively quickly, usually under ten days. As members of the Brassicaceae family, the seeds are quite small and round which means they are sown at a shallow depth of around 3-5mm. Seeds can be sown directly into the ground and thinned later to the required spacing. Alternatively, sow your seeds into seed-raising trays and transplant when seedlings are a few weeks old or large enough to handle. The seedbed or seed trays will need to be kept moist throughout germination otherwise they may not germinate. Covering the rows or pots with a fine layer of good quality seed raising mix or vermiculite will assist with water retention. Water seeds in with a fine mist setting to minimise disturbance to the seed. 

Care and Nutrition: At seedling stage your plants will enjoy regular weekly liquid feeds with an organic fish emulsion. Once planted into the ground plants can be given an application of slow-release pelletised organic fertiliser. As Asian Greens are quite fast growing this should provide ample nutrition until harvest. Ensure your plants are kept moist during their growth with regular watering. Drought-stressed plants have a tendency to bolt or become susceptible to pest and disease issues. Applying a 5-10cm layer of sugarcane mulch around your plants slows down soil evaporation and suppresses weeds.