a taste of the Orient in winter...

In the Garden | Culinary | Medicinal use

Popular garden varieties

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In the Garden

Growth Characteristics:

• Annuals, Fros±80 cm,
• Green-in-Snow or Chinese Mustard ( Brassica juncea )
  • This hardy plant will survive even in the snow. The slightly peppery tasting spinach is also great for winter soups and stews and can be added as a healthy salad plant that gives a bit of a peppery bite to the salad. The yellow flowers are delicious in stir-fries.
  • Height: ±50 cm; Spread: ±40 cm,
• Red Giant or Japanese Mustard Lettuce ( Brassica rapus-var. )
  • This bold and decorative leafed plant with its big copper/bronze coloured leaves is a must.
  • The coloured leaves have a peppery bite that adds great novelty to a salad, stir-fry and other
  • dishes. In the winter months it is a good health boosting plant!
  • Height: ±50 cm; Spread: ±40 cm,
• Tatsoi( Brassica var. )
  • Forms a rosette of dark green, glossy leaves which are rich in iron. Tatsoi makes a great winter soup with all the right nutrients. If left to go to seed, then it will produce attractive yellow flowers.
  • Height: ±20 cm; Spread: ±20 cm,
• Pak-Choi( Brassica oleracea )
  • A rosette forming plant, with dark glossy, spoon-shaped leaves with whitish stems. It ia also a hardy winter plant that can be cooked like spinach whilst the stems may be steamed
  • like asparagus. The leaves are rich in beta-carotene and Vitamins B and C to help ward off winter colds and flu.
  • Height: ±30 cm; Spread: ±20 cm,

Cultivation:

• Full sun; Well drained, composted soil,
• Grow from early Autumn (March) to late Spring (October),

Harvesting:

• Pick fresh leaves and flowers when necessary,
• New leaves will continue to develop for regular picking,

Companion Planting:

• Attracting Beneficial insects: A wonderful source of necter for Bees during the winter months,

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Culinary use

Use Oriental vegetables leaves with:

• Soups, Stews, Stir-fries, Salads, Sandwiches,
• Use with other vetables, Cabbage, meat, poultry and fish,
• Cream cheese, Salad dressings, Marinade, Omelettes,
• Steamed and served with lemon juice, a dab of butter and a little sprinkle of salt and pepper,
• The flowers are also edible and their bright yellow buds look lovely in salads,

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Medicinal use

Oriental Vegatables may be beneficial in the following cases:

Preparation and dosage:

• Use as a vegetable in the diet.

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