THE CHINESE GREENS - Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your Own Backyard - page 15

I generally prefer to harvest the entire plant, and replant with seedlings that have been
started elsewhere. I am constantly changing my garden plan and often want to put a
plant in quite a different spot. It's very easy to have a flat of mizuna seedlings ready for
transplanting.
Or, drop in a seed whenever you harvest a whole plant, and you'll have a rest
between harvests. What with lettuces, chards, mustards, cabbages, and other leafy ve-
getables, I must admit that sometimes they get away from me, but I've discovered this
happens to all enthusiastic gardeners — all of us plant too much zucchini, for instance.
Clip the entire plant to within an inch of its base for baby greens; it will regrow quickly for a second cut-
ting.
Varieties
Several varieties are now available, including some with reddish tints. If you don't find
it listed under mizuna, try looking under gourmet greens, Asian greens, mustard greens,
or salad mixes.
Varieties to look for: Mizuna Mustard, Organic Mizuna Early, Japanese Green.
CULINARY USES
Rich in vitamins and minerals, mizuna is so mildly flavored that it's hard to believe
it's a close relative of mustard greens. Its feathery foliage is very attractive in a leafy