A popular Chinese flowering cabbage
The Hon Tsai Tai also called Yu Choy Sum or Kosaitai is a very pooular chinese flowering cabbage from the brassicas family. It is very unusual vegetable as its stalk is purple to red, the flowers are yellow and the leaves are dark green with purple veins. Kosaita has a mild taste, and sweet flavor that is quite similar to Broccoli and spinach. The flowers are a bit more pungent and will taste slightly like mustard, When cooked, the stalks will keep their purple color with a tender and crunchy texture. The plant grows up to 30 cm tall. The Hon Tsai Tai is best planted in spring or early summer when the temperatures reach 10C. The Kosaitai is very versatile in the kitchen and can be used in in stir fries, sautéed, grilled, steamed. The stalks can be cooked like broccolis and the leaves like spinach.
Scientific Name: Brassica rapa var purpurea
Plant Life Cycle: annual
Optimal Germination Temperature: 10-20C
Germination time in days: 7-12 days
Indicative Days to maturity:-40- 70 days
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil requirement: rich and well drained
Sowing and cultivation: Sow seeds 1-2 cm deep in regular compost indoor from the beginning of March to May and place in a propagator or a sunny window sill. Transplant when large enough to handle and when temperatures are above 10C.
