Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 5, 2011 0:07:30 GMT -5
I grow all of my greens (and most of my garden) in raised beds. With all of the Asian greens I grow, I have not had good luck with Chinese cabbage, a.k.a. napa. It bolts in the spring, not from heat, but from very cool nights after it has been warm, so it seems to need a more even temperature than my area has, and one that just gradually increases, w/o peaks and valleys. Thinking that it would grow better in the fall, I tried that, but it just didn't seem to grow very large.
One variety (Hybrid Blues) I got seeds for from a friend didn't bolt on me, but it was a bug magnet! I have noticed this with it before, but never this bad! It seemed that flea beetles and aphids were drawn to the 3 plants, while not one of the other greens in the row had even a hint of bugs on them...really strange. Sort of like the way rabbits eat all the leaves from my kohlrabi, and don't touch the rest of the greens! I finally gave up growing this, since it is cheap around here, and grow mostly things not readily available here. And bok choy grows well in fall and spring, and Win Win is a variety that did not bolt here until August. And it was so cold resistant that it would probably grow through the winter for you.
Asian veggies, napa's in particular, make a very good trap crop to keep flea beetles off the rest of the garden. In the same vein, summer turnips (purple top, etc.) are a good trap for slugs on the coast.
Always pay it forward. grungysgarden.blogspot.com/ I am located about 10 miles. north of the Idaho panhandle and just below Kootenay Lake. The property lies in a small microclimate that gives me a zone 5/6 Canadian version or 6/7 US version. One acre of land at an elevation of 1770', just off the edge of a flood plain. Sandy loam soil, hot days and cool nights (55F).
Asian veggies, napa's in particular, make a very good trap crop to keep flea beetles off the rest of the garden. In the same vein, summer turnips (purple top, etc.) are a good trap for slugs on the coast.
Funny thing is, the rest of my Asian greens never get flea beetles. Eggplants, OTOH, look out! I'm thinking of planting napa between my eggplant...I wonder which they would migrate to? Maybe one would benefit! LOL
Post by littleminnie on Sept 5, 2011 21:52:14 GMT -5
Rubicon did very well for me. A summer crop will be ready in a few days. Bugs love Napa and I attempt to keep them covered with row cover. They are so easy to grow and fast if you get a good bolt resistant hybrid.
Market and CSA gardener on a small scale. Sandy soil; zone 4. 4 months without danger of frost.
I have been growing Asian vegetables in raised beds for over 25 years since my wife is Cantonese Chinese. She prefers Mei Quing Choi, Shanghai Bok Choy and Dwarf Choy Sum. I order my seeds from EVERGREEN SEEDS. I GROW 2 CROPS A YEAR... SPRING & FALL.
I'm no good with heading cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, or brussels sprouts, but as far as Asian "cabbages" go, any of the chois are really easy to grow. I don't direct-sow, but pepperhead does. I found this year that it's important to plant out the chois before they get rootbound in cups. They'll bolt quickly if that happens, regardless of how warm or cool the weather.
I'm no good with heading cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, or brussels sprouts, but as far as Asian "cabbages" go, any of the chois are really easy to grow. I don't direct-sow, but pepperhead does. I found this year that it's important to plant out the chois before they get rootbound in cups. They'll bolt quickly if that happens, regardless of how warm or cool the weather.
I have found this to happen with some greens, yet it didn't seem to be from getting rootbound. I only leave the plants in the pots for 3 weeks or therabouts, and the only ones that get a hint of being rootbound are the kohlrabi and komatsuna, since they grow so fast, yet they never have a problem with it. But I have had napa bolt in the pots, and last season red mizuna, which bolted so fast with so little leaf growth that I figure it had to be something else that triggered them, esp. since they were the only one in 18 varieties that did this. But what else could be the trigger?
Possible triggers are temperature, or getting a bit too dry a time or two.
Always pay it forward. grungysgarden.blogspot.com/ I am located about 10 miles. north of the Idaho panhandle and just below Kootenay Lake. The property lies in a small microclimate that gives me a zone 5/6 Canadian version or 6/7 US version. One acre of land at an elevation of 1770', just off the edge of a flood plain. Sandy loam soil, hot days and cool nights (55F).
Post by organicbaby on Sept 8, 2011 18:16:25 GMT -5
I started a 6 pack of Minuet last month(first time trying it) and set them out in the shade to start 'hardening off' and the lubbers were on them in a flash...little plants eaten down to a nub! This hasn't happened to me with any other veggies I start this time of year.
Got my early Chinese cabbage doing its thing. Just about all I have going right now for the weather has not cooperated. I always try to plant a early crop to eat which is sometimes iffy for it will sometimes bolt if the hot weather comes too soon, but for cold, it takes a licking and keeps on growing. I have even had it covered up by snow and went on to produce a crop. This is a hybrid for it seems like the only one that can tolerate early spring planting. But as you can see it is kicking even with the colt nights and excess rain. Will plant a fall crop as well and try my luck at some kimchi.
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Jun 15, 2024 21:00:46 GMT -5
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