Vegetable · Leafy green
Tatsoi
Brassica rapa subsp. narinosaA cold-hardy Asian green that grows as a flat, spoon-leaved rosette, thriving in the short days and mild chill of shoulder-season gardens. Mature plants shrug off hard frost, but a young plant checked by a spring cold snap will bolt at the first sign of warmth. The one rule: grow it as a fall crop where possible — it is far more forgiving than in spring.
Sow depth
¼ in
Spacing
8 in · rows 12 in
Sun
Sun or part shade
Germination
4–7 days
Time to harvest
45–50 days
Difficulty
Easy
When to sow tatsoi
- Sow from about 3 weeks before your last expected frost until about 1 week before your last expected frost.
- Sow from about 7 weeks before the first expected autumn frost until about 4 weeks before the first expected autumn frost.
Direct sow shallowly into moist, fertile soil; tatsoi resents root disturbance.Sow every two to three weeks for a continuous supply of rosettes.Keep the seedbed consistently damp until seedlings are established.
Thin to 8 in for full rosettes, or grow closer for baby leaves.Water evenly; dry spells push plants toward flowering.Mulch to keep roots cool during any late warm spell.
Cut whole rosettes at the base, or pick outer leaves individually.Harvest baby leaves from three weeks, or wait for full rosettes at six to seven.Leave a fall planting through a light frost — the cold sweetens the leaves.
Companion plants
Nasturtiums planted nearby lure flea beetles away from tatsoi’s tender leaves.
Watch out for
Flea beetles — Riddle leaves with small holes and are especially drawn to tatsoi among Asian greens. Cover with fine mesh from sowing.Aphids — Cluster in the tight rosette center in mild weather. Rinse off with a strong water jet before colonies build up.