Growing komatsuna is relatively easy as the plants grow very quickly and mature in just 40 days.
The plants are very hardy, drought tolerant and can be sown and grown year round in many climates. Japan and Taiwan cultivate komatsuna commercially.
Komatsuna is a leafy vegetable and a variety of Brassica rapa. It is also known as Japanese mustard spinach.
The name “komatsuna” comes from the Japanese komatsuna, “Komatsu green”, a reference to the village of Komatsugawa, where it was widely cultivated during the Edo period.
Komatsuna is very nutritious and rich in vitamins and minerals (an excellent source of calcium). It is fried, pickled, boiled, added to soup or used fresh in salads.
The leaves can be eaten at any stage of their growth. The leaves of the mature plant are dark green with thin, light green stems (about 12 inches long and 7 inches wide).
How to Farm Komatsuna
Growing a komatsuna in your garden is not that difficult. It is a biennial plant, tolerant of both very low temperatures and heat (but extreme heat can cause it to curl).
However, here we describe more information about growing komatsuna in your garden.
Choose a place
Choose a good spot in your garden to grow komatsuna. Komatsuna plants grow well in full sun and well-drained soil.
prepare the terrain
Nitrogen-rich soil is considered good for growing komatsuna. Therefore, before planting, prepare the soil by adding as much organic matter as possible. Till the soil and add well-rotted manure or decomposed compost.
Buy seeds
Komatsuna plants are grown from seed. So buy good quality seeds from one of the markets or garden centers near you.
Best time to farm Komatsuna
Komatsuna plants can be grown all year round. But most often they are grown in spring and autumn, since the plants cannot withstand extreme heat or cold for a shorter period.
planting
You can sow the seeds directly in the garden or you can start sowing early indoors. You can plant the seeds in rows which should be 12 to 18 inches apart.
Sow the seeds 4 to 6 inches apart, then cut them about 12 inches apart when the seedlings are 4 to 6 inches tall. You can use thinners in salads.
Care
The extra care will help the plants grow better. Komatsuna plants generally need large amounts of nitrogen.
Therefore, you will need to improve the soil with compost and use nitrogen fertilizers as the plants mature (blood meal is a very good source of nitrogen).
Komatsuna plants do not need to be watered too often. Because the plants are drought resistant. But regular watering will help plants grow well.
Try clearing the area of weeds with a hoe or by hand. Use mulch in your garden to retain moisture in the soil and also to control most weeds.
Harvest
The advantage of growing komatsuna is that “you can pick the leaves at any stage and they can be cut off one at a time, or you can take the whole head.”
Leaf cleaning will be good. Because the plants will grow back and increase the harvest time if you only harvest leaves. Plant small patches regularly to ensure an uninterrupted supply all year round. Good luck!
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