Mustard Spinach
Brassica rapa perviridis

Family: Brassicaceae or Cruciferae

What it is like

Brassica rapa perviridis is a BIENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 0.5

Where it is found

Not known in the wild, it probably arose from B. rapa chinensis, Pak choi.

A cultivar of garden origin.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Leaves - raw or cooked. The flavour is a happy compromise between the blandness of cabbages and the sharpness of the oriental mustards. The plant can be eaten at any stage from seedling to mature plant. Flowering stems - raw or cooked. Sweet and succulent, but becoming hotter as the plant matures.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating:

How it is grown

Succeeds in full sun in a moisture-retentive well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil. Prefers a cool moist reasonably fertile soil. The plant is somewhat deeper rooted than many of the oriental brassicas and is more tolerant of drought, though it grows best if it is not short of water. Mustard spinach is widely cultivated in the Orient for its edible leaves, there are many named varieties. It takes 55 - 80 days for plants to reach maturity from sowing. This is a very hardy plant, although knocked back, it has withstood temperatures down to about -14°c and can be cropped for most of the year. It is much less likely to bolt from a spring sowing and is fairly resistant to summer heat.

Propagating it: Seed - sow in situ April to September. Some varieties can also be sown in a cold greenhouse in late autumn, winter or early spring to provide leaves overwinter and in late spring.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Biennial

Hardiness: 6-9

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

B. rapa komatsuna.