Tatsoi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tatsoi |
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B. r. subsp. narinosa
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| Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa (L.H.Bailey) Hanelt
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Tatsoi is a type of leafy green vegetable from Asia. It's a bit like Bok Choy, which you might have seen before. People grow Tatsoi for its tasty leaves. It's now popular all around the world, even in North America!
Contents
What's in a Name? Tatsoi's Many Titles
The name "Tatsoi" comes from a Chinese language called Cantonese. It means "drooping vegetable." You might also hear it called "tat choy."
This plant grows naturally near the Yangtze River in China. In different parts of China, it has other names. For example, some call it "dark drooping veggie."
Tatsoi also has fun English names. These include 'Chinese flat cabbage' or 'spoon mustard'. Sometimes it's even called 'spinach mustard'.
What Does Tatsoi Look Like?
Tatsoi plants have dark green leaves. These leaves are shaped like spoons. They grow in a thick, round cluster, almost like a flower.
The leaves feel soft and creamy. They have a mild but special flavor.
How to Grow Tatsoi
Tatsoi grows quite fast. You can harvest it in about 45 to 50 days. It's a tough plant too! Tatsoi can handle cold weather, even temperatures as low as -10°C (15°F). You can even pick it from under the snow!
Here are some tips for growing Tatsoi:
- Days to Maturity: It takes about 45 days to be ready to pick.
- When to Plant Seeds:
- Outside: You can plant seeds as soon as the ground is ready in spring. You can also plant them again in late summer or fall.
- Inside: It's best to plant Tatsoi seeds directly outside.
- How Deep to Plant: Plant the seeds about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep.
- How Far Apart to Plant: Leave about 6 inches between each seed.
- How Far Apart Rows Should Be: If you plant in rows, make them 18 inches apart.
- Days to Sprout: The seeds usually sprout in 5 to 15 days.
- Thinning Plants: When your plants are about 4 inches tall, thin them out. This means removing some plants so the others are 6 inches apart. This gives them space to grow big.
Why Tatsoi is Good for You
Tatsoi is packed with good stuff for your body! It has lots of vitamin C, which helps you stay healthy. It also contains carotenoids, which are good for your eyes.
You'll also find folic acid, calcium, and potassium in Tatsoi. Calcium helps make your bones strong. Potassium is important for your muscles.
Cooking with Tatsoi
Tatsoi is a very flexible green vegetable. You can eat it raw or cook it lightly. It's often used in salads, stir-fries, or as a garnish for soup. Some people even use it to make pesto!
Think of Tatsoi like spinach. You can use it in many of the same ways. You can lightly steam it or quickly cook it in a pan. You can also add the leaves to a warm salad dressing. Or, put them into a soup right at the end of cooking.
The leaves of Tatsoi are tender, like romaine lettuce. The stalks taste a bit like cucumber and have a mild bitter flavor. You can eat both the leaves and the inner stalks. The outer stalks are usually thrown away. People often stir-fry the leaves and stalks together. You can also pickle them!
See also
In Spanish: Tatsoi para niños
