Love a bit of ‘pep’ in your salad, then you need to include Mizuna (Brassica rapa Var. crispifolia) in your vegie patch! Although it is closely related to Mibuna, Mizuna has a stronger peppery taste and ribbed edges along its leaves. It is also fast and easy to grow, great for the beginner gardener, kids or the very hungry!
How to grow mizuna in a garden
- Choose a sunny or partly shaded spot in the garden, loosen the soil with a garden fork and dig in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.
- Sow seeds directly into the prepared garden bed around 6mm deep and spaced 30cm apart. Cover lightly with Yates Seed Raising Mix and water well.
- Water regularly to keep the soil moist.
- Once the seedlings emerge, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Vegie and Herb Liquid Plant Food.
- Harvest by snipping or pulling leaves at soil level – this will also help encourage more leafy growth. Otherwise you can harvest the entire heads of the plants after 8 weeks. Sow successive crops every 3-4 weeks to extend you harvest window.
How to grow mizuna in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 300mm wide and deep and position in a sunny or part shaded spot in the garden. Fill with a quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.
- Sow seeds directly into the prepared pot around 6mm deep. Cover lightly with Yates Seed Raising Mix and water well.
- Water regularly to keep the soil moist.
- Once seedlings emerge, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Vegie and Herb Liquid Plant Food.
- Harvest by snipping or pulling leaves at soil level – this will also help encourage more leafy growth. Otherwise you can harvest the entire heads of the plants after 8 weeks. Sow successive crops every 3-4 weeks to extend you harvest window.
Growing tips
- Start picking the leaves from 3 weeks after sowing. This will encourage further leafy growth
- Pick the leaves as needed. Just be sure not to leave them too long on the plant as the tender leaves can wilt easily
- Mibuna can bolt or go to seed quickly in summer. To prolong the availability of leafy growth, prune the flower stem back to the base, mulch around the base of the plant and continue to water well.
Beans
If you are looking for an easy vegie to grow, beans are an ideal choice.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa sprouts grow quickly, sprouting in just 3 to 5 days. You can grow them in a glass jar or a small tray & are great fun for kids.
Artichokes
It's a 'tops and bottoms' tale when it comes to artichokes. There are 2 different varieties to choose from - Jerusalem or Globe artichokes.
Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser
Create organic nutrient rich soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter for better root growth, stronger plants and more flowers and fruit.
Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb Liquid Plant Food
Yates Thrive Vegie and Herb Concentrate is a complete liquid plant food that provides balanced nutrition.
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