Which types: Chinese cabbage, komatsuna, mizuna, mustard, pak choi, and tatsoi.

Sowing depth: 5 to 6mm

Sowing temperatures: Wide range, from 10 to 30ºC

Sowing dates:

  • Very early crops: Sow March and April undercover (for baby leaves only; do not sow for large-sized plants or teenage leaves)
  • Early crops: Sow May undercover (do not sow tatsoi and mustard if they are to be harvested as large-sized plants or teenage leaves)
  • Main crops: Sow June to August outdoors (delay sowing tatsoi and mustard until July if they are to be harvested as large-sized plants or teenage leaves)
  • Overwintering crops: Sow the first half of September undercover

Single harvest of large-sized plants

Where to grow: In the ground or large compost-filled containers.

 Growing distance: 30x30cm

 What to do:

  • Direct seeding: Sow 2 or 3 seeds at each ‘post’. Thin down to one seedling after germination.
  • Transplanting: Sow 2 or 3 seeds in each cell of compost-filled module trays, thinning down to one seedling after germination. Transplant young plants to their final growing place when the roots fill the cells.

Cut-and-grow-again for ‘teenage’ leaves

Where to grow: In the ground or large compost-filled containers.

Growing distances: 15×15 to 30x30cm.

What to do:

  • Direct seeding: Sow 2 or 3 seeds at each ‘post’, thin down to one seedling after germination.
  • Transplanting: Sow 2 or 3 seeds in each cell of compost-filled module trays, thin down to one seedling after germination. Transplant young plants to their final growing place when the roots fill the cells.

Cut-and-grow-again for baby leaves

Where to grow: In a relatively weed-free part of the garden or large compost-filled containers.

What to do: Direct sow.

Growing distances: Leave 10 to 12cm between rows. Sow seeds 1cm apart, thinning down to 2 to 3cm between seedlings.

Easy Peasy Gardening for baby leaves

Where to grow: In compost-filled toughs or pots.

What to do: Broadcast seeds quite thickly.

Growing distances: After germination, thin down to leave 2 to 4cm between seedlings.