Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022 - 80

Asian Vegetables - Horticulture
Asian Vegetables -
Horticulture
Major update by Ben Phillips, Liz Maynard - Oct 2020
Reviewed by Liz Maynard - Aug 2021
Crop Description
U.S. demand for ethnic vegetables is increasing rapidly-
from a growing ethnic Asian population and from other
consumers seeking variety.
Asian vegetables are those that have originated from East
Asia (China, Japan, and Korea) and Southeast Asia
(Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
Vietnam, etc.), as well as South Asia (India and Pakistan).
The crops listed here are adapted to production in the
Midwest. The short-season crops might be suitable in double
crop situations, such as following wheat or an early cabbage
or sweet corn crop.
The information below should be considered an introduction
to Asian vegetables. More detailed information can be found
in the resources section. General pest management
recommendations for the crop families described below can
be found in the corresponding crop chapters in this Guide.
Although not all of the specific crops mentioned in this
chapter will be associated with pesticides in the crop chapters
of this guide, pesticide labels will list crops on which specific
products may be used.
Asian vegetables have different names in different languages.
You must properly identify the crop to market it properly and
to select the appropriate pest control measures. Below are
descriptions and horticultural information for some of these
crops that are not otherwise discussed in other chapters.
Brassica Leafy Greens
Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa), and Mustard greens
(Brassica juncea) are grown as salad or braising greens or as
heading crops. Their leaves are not waxy, and most of them
are Asian in origin. They can be grown as components of a
salad mix. Crops in this group are more susceptible to
damage from flea beetles but tend to be less attractive to
caterpillars than cole crops such as broccoli. Chinese cabbage
is especially sensitive to bolting in response to cold
temperatures and other stressful conditions.
Chinese cabbage: Chinese cabbage has been grown in Asia
since the fifth century. It is a cool-season annual vegetable. It
grows best with short days and moderate to cool temperatures
(60° to 70° F). Its cultural requirements are similar to those of
cabbage and lettuce. Chinese cabbage is fairly quick to
mature. It varies from 40 days from sowing to harvest for
80
some cultivars to 75 days for the longer-maturing ones.
Chinese cabbage is a term applied to a wide range of types
and varieties. The main types and varieties of Chinese
cabbage are:
Group I: Napa cabbage
Napa cabbages form broad-leafed, compact heads of layered
leaves and are also known as pe-tsai, perstai, hsin pei tsai,
celery cabbage, Chinese white cabbage, Peking cabbage, won
bok, nappa (Japanese), hakusai (Japanese), and pao. There are
two types, Chihili and Che-foo.
Chihili types of Napa cabbage form a cylindrical head 18
inches long and 6 inches in diameter, with an erect, upright
growing habit. Some varieties of this form are Chihili,
Michihli, Market Pride, Shantung, and Shaho Tsai.
Che-foo types form a compact, round head of green-bladed,
white-petioled leaves. Some varieties in this group are Chefoo,
Tropical Pride, and Oriental King.
Recommended spacing for Napa cabbage is 18 inches within
the rows and 24 inches between rows.
Group II: Bok choy
Bok choy is a non-heading form of Chinese cabbage, with
several thick white leafstalks. The smooth, glossy, dark green
leaf blades form a celery-like cluster. The most commonly
accepted designations are bok choy or pak choy. Many refer
to it as Chinese mustard. There are not as many varieties of
bok choy as there are of the Napa cabbage. Bok choy
varieties include Canton Choice and Long White Petiole.
Recommended spacing for Bok choy is 8 to 12 inches within
the row and 24 inches between rows.
Mustard and other greens: Other brassica greens, such as
mizuna, mibuna, tatsoi, komatsuna, and mustard are usually
direct seeded. Some varieties are prone to premature
flowering, which is enhanced by cold temperatures in the
spring. Transplanting, which is less common than direct
seeding, can also increase premature flowering in the spring
due to increased plant stress. Plant populations vary
tremendously and should be geared toward the intended
harvest age and size.
Stem and Leafy Vegetables (NonBrassica)
Celtuce
(Lactuca sativa var. asparagina): This vegetable is
closely related to standard head lettuces, with similar
cultivation practices. But, celtuce is grown for its thick stem.
Plants are cut at the base when the stem is 8 to 10 inches
long, and all the leaves are removed except at the tip.
Garlic scapes (Allium sativum): In the production of hard
neck garlic, a flower shoot, called a " scape " , is produced. The
scapes must be clipped off to maximize bulb size, and can be
bunched or bagged for sale.
Midwest Veg Guide 2022
Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022

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