Mustard Seeds - Small Gai Choi
35 to 45 Days to maturity. Brassica juncea var. capitata. Small Gai Choi Mustard Seeds. Heirloom. Cool season annual. This heirloom Chinese mustard green is very vigorous and productive. It is a non-heading type of mustard, with large stalks and fan-shaped tender green leaves that are a bit wrinkled. It’s leaves are spicy, similar to good Wasabi mustard, making it a kay ingredient in many spicy Asian dishes. This variety is fairly heat-tolerant so it is a good summer plant for your garden. This may bolt in the spring or in cold weather. Approx 22,300 seeds / oz.
Cabbage, Seeds, Pak Choi - Green Stem Mei Qing - Hybrid
Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF
Other Common Names: Baby Chinese Mustard, Chinese leaf mustard, Siu gai choi.
How to Grow Small Gai Choi
Start seeds about 6 inches apart, ½ inch deep, in soil that is fertile and well-draining (avoid clay soils). If planting in multiple rows, keep the rows about 18 inches apart. Avoid planting near vining plants, like tomatoes, because the tendrils will choke out the Gai Choi. Water frequently with at least one inch of water per week. Because they mature quickly we recommend starting new plants successively, about two weeks apart, allowing for a continuous harvest.
Harvesting Small Gai Choi
If harvesting at full maturity, cut the entire plant at ground level. These are fully mature at about 7 weeks, plus or minus a few days. Fully mature Small Gai Choi will be quite spicy, and good for dishes that need this kind of flavor..
Many times it’s best to harvest these early, as soon as three weeks after sprouting, for a less bitter flavor. Pull individual leaves off at the base of the plant, moving upward as the leaves get larger.
Culinary Tips
Small Gai Choi can be used in various recipes, but stir-frying with other vegetables, eggs, fish, or meat dishes will add a unique flavor. One traditional way to prepare this is to pickle the leaves, which removes the bitter flavor. Simple pickled cabbage recipes are great for this variety, especially when using apple cider vinegar.
Stories From Our Gardeners
"In my own garden, I have been able to use a few techniques to avoid fungal diseases like white rust and leaf blight that can affect Small Gai Choi. Especially in warmer climates, mulching around the base of the plant with straw, or strips of newspaper, and watering at ground level helps prevent fungal diseases. By keeping the leaves dry and the underside protected by the mulch, I avoided this issue completely after it became a problem on another mustard plant similar to this one!"
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- David Wiley, True Leaf Market Writer |
Seeds Per Package:
- 3 g packet - Approximately 2,400 Seeds
- 1 oz - Approximately 22,300 Seeds
- 4 oz - Approximately 89,200 Seeds
- 1 lb - Approximately 356,800 Seeds
Basic Info
| Latin Name: | Brassica juncea var. capitata |
| Small Gai Choi Color: | Color |
| Small Gai Choi Flavor: | Flavor |
Growing Info
| Days to Maturity: | 35 to 45 Days |
| Days to Germination: | 7-10 Days |
| Seeding Depth: | 1/2 inches |
| Row Spacing: | 18 inches |
| Plant Height: | 10-12 inches |
| Growth Habit: | Upright, tender leaf. |
| Soil Preference: | Loamy and slightly acidic (6.0-6.8pH). Keep well-watered, approximately 1 inch of water per week. |
| Temperature Preference: | 65-85°F |
Other
| Plant Width: | 6 inches |
| Pests and Disease: | Pests for Small Gai Choi include aphids, white flies, cabbage worms, and flea beetles. Diseases that affect this plant include white rust, leaf blight, and downy mildew. |