Asian Greens
Tat soi is a cool-season Asian green that brings striking visual drama to any garden. With its deep lustrous black-green leaves arranged in perfectly concentric circles, this botanical variety of Brassica rapa has earned the nicknames rosette pak choi and flat cabbage for good reason. The leaves range from smooth and flat to beautifully puckered and crepe-like, creating a plant so visually arresting it doubles as an ornamental border or ground cover. Hardy from zones 2 to 11, it matures to just 6 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide, making it exceptionally easy to tuck into small spaces. Both its prostrate and upright varieties tolerate cold exceptionally well, with some capable of surviving temperatures down to -10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Partial Sun
Moderate
2-11
12in H x 18in W
Annual, Biennial
High
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Tat soi's real strength lies in its dual nature as both a stunning garden plant and a productive vegetable. The thick, lustrous black-green leaves arranged in geometric rosettes are as beautiful as they are nutritious, earning it a place in ornamental gardens as readily as vegetable beds. Its exceptional cold tolerance makes it one of the few greens that actually thrives in shoulder seasons when most crops falter, and its compact, ground-hugging form means you can grow substantial amounts in surprisingly little space.
Transplant seedlings outdoors into fertile, moisture-retentive soil spaced 6 to 8 inches apart with 18 inches between rows.
Sow seeds directly in fertile, moisture-retentive soil in late spring for a spring and summer crop, or in late summer for a fall crop. Seeds can also be sown earlier in spring with row cover protection or in summer, though high temperatures and irregular moisture may cause bolting.
Harvest individual outer leaves as needed once plants are established, or cut the entire rosette at the base when it reaches your desired size. Both prostrate and upright varieties are ready to harvest when leaves are full and firm.
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