Choy Sum Purple

Description

Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Brassica
Species: Oleracea var. alboglabra
PAK CHOI – ROSETTE TYPES

Choy Sum Purple is a vigorous and productive 80-day type. Suitable for all-year production it can withstand temperatures below 0°C (32°F). Quick to break into flower stems, but still makes a large frame with good eating quality stems. The stems are purple-red with a distinctive flavour and the leaves are rounded and mid-green in colour. The plant height is about 30cm (12in) with a spread of 35cm (14in).The flavour of Choi Sum can be described as midway between cabbage and spinach, it tends to be milder in younger leaves, and develops a little ‘kick’ in its older leaves. It is often described to be along the lines of a sweet, less bitter, broccoli raab.
The absolute fabulous thing about this gorgeous green is, you use the whole plant: Flowers, buds, leaves and stems. If allowed to mature and bolt, yellow flowers will shoot and the plant becomes sweeter and more succulent.

Sowing:  From early spring through midsummer ( May to September, can be sown earlier for baby leaf and cut and come again, sow later under glass ). Well adapted for all ear plantings.  Sow 15 seeds/ft. 1/4″ deep in 2″ wide bands in rows 18″ apart. Harvest before flowering ( flowering first year ). For baby leaf, sow 60 seeds/ft. in a 2″ to 4″ wide band. Clip 4-5 week-old leaves.