Happy
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Post by Happy on Sept 24, 2018 22:26:01 GMT -5
I love growing pak choi. It seems like any variety I grow is deeply colored, sturdy and, of course, loaded with nutrients.
Johnny's Win-Win Choi F1 was planted in my Classic 7 on August 31.
(R&R on 9-20, with at least one harvest) Park Seed Purple Hybrid Pak Choi planted in my Harvest on August 27
(R&R on 9-20 with one harvest) And my old stand-by, Johnny's Green Pak
Planted in my Classic 7 on 8-19.
R&R on 9-7 and 9-20
Harvested at least twice already.
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nick
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Post by nick on Sept 25, 2018 10:11:08 GMT -5
I love that Purple Hybrid! Gorgeous.
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MaryL
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Post by MaryL on Sept 25, 2018 15:00:20 GMT -5
Fantastic! All beautiful. I’ve never seen the purple before (I don’t think).
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Happy
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Post by Happy on Sept 25, 2018 18:54:56 GMT -5
do you like it raw or 'wok-ed' ? Although it's probably more nutritious raw, I prefer it sauteed. You can see how I over-cook it, and how much it shrinks at aerogardenaddicts.com/post/13044 |
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Happy
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Post by Happy on Sept 25, 2018 19:09:17 GMT -5
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MaryL
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Post by MaryL on Sept 26, 2018 6:30:36 GMT -5
Each is quite a difference in number. I find across the board that Kitazawa is vastly more generous than any other vendor. So much so that even if I grew back to back gardens for years, (as I used to with Choi), I’d never use them all. In fact I still have the same packet of choi seeds from about 4 years ago, and they’re still viable. They’re a wonderful family owned vendor with a remarkable history.
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Sept 27, 2018 3:09:38 GMT -5
I have never tried choi on its own other then it being in take out. However from what I have read on the forums it is bitter and I most likely will not eat it. However it has always looked wonderful as it is growing.
Love that purple color.
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Happy
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Post by Happy on Sept 27, 2018 15:30:11 GMT -5
...However from what I have read on the forums it is bitter and I most likely will not eat it.... Shawn, it certainly is more bitter than lettuce, but not by much. (That's why I cook it to death before I eat it.) Since I harvest the leaves while they're still in "baby" stage, they're really not too bitter. But I'll be happy to send you some seeds if you'd like to make room for a pod or two. Please PM me if you're interested. |
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Happy
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Post by Happy on Sept 27, 2018 15:32:50 GMT -5
Your photo of pan sauteed choi brought back memories.
As for the cooking: as a child I was forced to eat soggy spinach and the strings would get caught in my throat . My mother did not know how to cook it right.. Cooked Choi has that same effect. So if I eat either spinach or choi they are raw as a rule....and my fav healthy vitamin k greens
HA , Corinne! You're certainly getting more nutrients by eating them raw. I think that I'll gradually start adding a few leaves of the more bitter greens to my salads, and smothering them with dressing  |
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Oct 11, 2018 3:36:44 GMT -5
...However from what I have read on the forums it is bitter and I most likely will not eat it.... Shawn, it certainly is more bitter than lettuce, but not by much. (That's why I cook it to death before I eat it.) Since I harvest the leaves while they're still in "baby" stage, they're really not too bitter. But I'll be happy to send you some seeds if you'd like to make room for a pod or two. Please PM me if you're interested. I am not a Bok Choi type of gal. I do not like t he bitterness of it. I will eat it in take out but wont grow it unless Mark wants to try it out. I like my different Romaines. |
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Happy
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Post by Happy on Oct 13, 2018 4:03:17 GMT -5
More of Johnny's Win Win.
Planted 9-29 in my Harvest with R&R on 10-11.
The leaves are smooth, but not shiny. Almost as if they're covered with a fine powder
It's a perfectly good choi, but I prefer the brighter, deeper green of Johnny's Green Pac, or the deep colors of PS Purple Hybrid Pak Choi, above.
All three varieties are hardy, with thick leaves.
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Oct 13, 2018 4:10:08 GMT -5
This is a new one to me. I do not think I ever saw a choi with smooth flat leaves. Pretty cool.
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Happy
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Post by Happy on Oct 13, 2018 5:15:56 GMT -5
Cornucopia Seeds* Canton White Pak Choi"A fast-growing crop for spring and fall. Vase-shaped Pak Choi plants have plump, juicy white stalks and deep green leaves. Flavor is mild, sweet and crunchy. High in nutrition and perfect for quick and delicious stir-fries. Ready in 60-110 days." Planted 9-24 n the left side of my Ultra. (R&R on 10-6). These leaves are huge!  *Cornucopia Seeds are available in hardware/garden stores and on Amazon.
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MaryL
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Post by MaryL on Oct 14, 2018 8:47:02 GMT -5
Interesting that they describe the Cornucopia as sweet. Have you tried it yet?
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Happy
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Post by Happy on Oct 14, 2018 15:55:41 GMT -5
Mary, I just tasted a leaf for you.
HA! "Sweet" is not an accurate description.
It tastes just like Bok Choi... It starts out mild, then leaves a bitter aftertaste. But like all the Pak Choi seeds I've tried, it grows beautifully.
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Happy
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Post by Happy on Nov 2, 2018 21:01:12 GMT -5
I was going to take photos of my newest pak choi plants in my AG, but I figured that you might not believe the deep purple colors, so here's a comparison of 5 types:  Top left: Johnny's Green Pak (My favorite of the green choi's because the color is always so deep.) (see above) Top center: Cornucopia Seeds Canton White Pak Choi -- your average bok choi. (see above) Top right: Park Seed Purple Hybrid Pak Choi (see above) Bottom left: Kitazawa Purple Choi Bottom left: Kitazawa Red Tatsoi All choi's taste the same to me (after I sautee and salt them to death) and all of the above have firm, hardy textures. Thank you, MaryL, for turning me on to Kitazawa! |
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Nov 3, 2018 8:24:37 GMT -5
Beautiful colors and yes very deep.  |
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MaryL
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Post by MaryL on Nov 14, 2018 19:36:20 GMT -5
They’re all beautiful.
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Happy
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Post by Happy on Nov 16, 2018 13:12:54 GMT -5
I harvested and sauteed the Kitazawa choi.
It was really interesting: As I sauteed it, the intense purple came off the leaves and left the pan purple while the leaves turned dark green.
If I hadn't planted them myself, I would have thought that the purple was spray-painted on.
I don't know if it was because it was my first time planting choi in a Farm, or because it was Kitazawa seeds, but it was a lush, beautiful garden.
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
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Post by MaryL on Nov 17, 2018 18:48:19 GMT -5
Interesting! While it’s disappointing that the purple was lost, it’s a good thing it didn’t turn into an unappealing gray.
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