Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
PART ONE
THE CHINESE VEGETABLES
Many Chinese vegetables have slowly become an everyday part of our diet. They're not
in any way limited to Chinese cooking; Chinese vegetables fit in comfortably with famil-
iar American recipes and their use is practically unlimited. When you reflect that many
of the “American” foods we take for granted — carrots, beets, apples, and many more —
aren't native to this country, you realize that a foreign vegetable is just one we haven't
yet incorporated into our daily menus.
Growing Chinese vegetables is no different from trying a new hybrid tomato or corn,
though in most cases Chinese vegetables seem to be prettier. Snow peas are more attract-
ive to grow than English peas; Asian squash are more handsome and more interesting
than jack-o-lanterns. Another difference, especially important to container gardeners, is
that Asian vegetables generally seem to be more prolific. Here again, snow peas are a
perfect example. Growing Chinese vegetables means good nutrition as well as great fun.
