Tatsoi

Tatsoi is a beautiful and highly nutritious Asian green that is increasingly popular in UK gardens. It forms a low-growing, very flat rosette of thick, spoon-shaped, dark green leaves with pale white stalks. The flavor is mild and slightly mustardy, making it a wonderful addition to stir-frys or used raw in salads. It is particularly valued for its incredible cold tolerance; it can withstand frost and even light snow, often remaining productive well into the British winter under a simple cloche. In fact, when grown in cold conditions, the plant hugs the ground even more tightly. It is a fast-growing crop that can be harvested as individual leaves or as a whole head. In the UK, it can be sown from spring through to late summer. Late summer sowings are often the most successful, as the plants thrive in the cooling temperatures of autumn. Its decorative form also makes it an attractive choice for ornamental kitchen gardens or containers.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Moisture-retentive, fertile soil.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: May, Jun.