Days to Maturity: 30
Scarlet Red Mustard Tatsoi is a leafy vegetable, also known as spoon mustard, spinach mustard, or rosette bok choy, that grows in a lovely semi-heading rosette. The petite spoon-shaped leaves are glossy and have a beautiful deep red blush, which remains after cooking. They have a tender, succulent texture and a sweet, tangy flavor. A versatile culinary green, Scarlet Red can be used like spinach and harvested as a cut-and-come-again vegetable. Mustard greens are considered a superfood for their nutrient rich content, having a high (top 20) Aggregate Nutrient Density Index score (ANDI), or micronutrient-per-calorie density. Red tatsoi is a good source of vitamins A, C, and K as well as of calcium, carotenoids, folate, and potassium.
A cold hardy herbaceous biennial, typically grown as an annual, Scarlet Red Mustard Tatsoi is a member of the cabbage and mustard family (Brassicaceae or Cruciferae), commonly called crucifers, brassicas, or cole crops. Ornamental as well as productive, Scarlet Red Mustard Tatsoi is suitable for containers but can also be grown as sprouts.
Scarlet Red Mustard Tatsoi is easy to grow from seed. It prefers full sun and fertile, well-draining soil that's high in nitrogen. For best texture and flavor, soils should be kept evenly moist.
A cool-season, winter-hardy vegetable, the toughest of the cool-season crops, one of the first to be planted in the garden, mustard seed can be direct sown into the garden as soon as the soil is workable in early spring, approximately 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date. Seeds can also be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting into the garden, early spring and fall. It needs cold temperatures to germinate and grow, withstanding light frost and temperatures below 28°F. Row covers offer added protection from heavy frost. Mulching helps to moderate soil temperature and to maintain soil moisture.
If you plan to start your seeds indoors, be sure to check out our Bio Dome Seed Starter Kit. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant.
