CHUXAY GARDEN Cryptotaenia Japonica Seed 1000 Seeds Mitsuba Edible Green Vegetable Japanese Wild Parsley Organic Vegetables Seasoning Culinary Plants

Price: $11.99
(as of Feb 03, 2024 17:41:46 UTC – Details)

It looks like flat-leaf parsley, has a clean “green” flavor like parsley, belongs to the same family (Apiaceae) as parsley and is sometimes called wild Japanese parsley, but mitsuba (Cryptotaenia japonica) is a distinct herb that’s often used in Japanese and Chinese cooking. Mitsuba means “three leaves” in Japanese and refers to the way the leaves grow on tall, skinny stems — very similar to my Giant of Italy parsley. The trefoil leaves are large and tender, with a subtle flavor that I can only describe as a cross of parsley, celery, and maybe a hint of cilantro. The plant is a hardy perennial in mild climates and grows as a cut-and-come-again herb. I never let my mitsuba flower, but it reseeds easily if treated as an annual crop. To harvest, I wait for the stems to grow 6 to 8 inches tall, then give them a haircut straight across at soil level. This encourages more stems to grow, rather than just picking off the leaves. (Don’t toss the stems either; they’re soft and succulent, and not at all stringy like parsley sometimes is.)
Hardiness zone.4-9
Grow.Sow seeds intensively in spring after last frost or fall (mild climate areas) in rich, well-drained soil. For a continuous supply, plant seeds every 4-6 weeks over the growing season. Harvest when stems are 6-7″ tall.
Tall.6 to 8 inches tall.
Use.Mitsuba is usually added to soups, salads, and stir-fries, and often raw since heat tends to bring out its bitterness (or degrade the flavor altogether).
Self-seeding.Grow from seed and enjoy growing with your family