How to Grow Tatsoi
Brassica rapa var. narinosa
Tatsoi is a versatile cool-season brassica valued for its mild flavor and rapid growth. Gardeners grow it as both a quick green salad addition and a hardy leaf crop that tolerates light frosts, making it an excellent choice for early spring or late autumn harvests.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Tatsoi: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Tatsoi is not usually started indoors.
Tatsoi is best direct-sown in the garden rather than started indoors and transplanted, though seedlings can be moved gently if necessary after hardening off.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 to ensure healthy root development. As a cool-season brassica, you should sow seeds directly outdoors 2 to 6 weeks before your last expected frost date. Press the tiny seeds gently into the soil surface without covering them deeply, as they require light for germination. Expect sprouts in just 4 to 7 days under these conditions.
Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart to allow proper air circulation and leaf expansion. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, as Tatsoi requires high moisture levels to thrive. While it does not need staking or trellising, apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feed lightly if growth slows in warm weather.
Watch for flea beetles, aphids, cabbage worms, and leaf miners; use row covers early to prevent infestations. Monitor closely for downy mildew, white spot, clubroot, or black rot by ensuring good airflow and avoiding overhead watering when possible. Harvest leaves 40 to 50 days after sowing by snipping outer leaves as needed or cutting the whole plant at soil level.
When to Plant Tatsoi
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | January – December | June – July | January – December |
| Zone 2 | January – December | May – July | January – December |
| Zone 3 | January – December | May – June | January – December |
| Zone 4 | January – December | April – June | January – December |
| Zone 5 | January – December | April – May | January – December |
| Zone 6 | January – December | April – May | January – December |
| Zone 7 | January – December | March – May | January – December |
| Zone 8 | January – December | March – April | January – December |
| Zone 9 | January – December | February – March | January – December |
| Zone 10 | January – December | January – March | January – December |
| Zone 11 | January – December | January – February | January – December |
| Zone 12 | January – December | January – February | January – December |
| Zone 13 | January – December | January – February | January – December |
Companion Plants for Tatsoi
✓ Good companions
Compatible brassica family member with similar growing needs
Different root depths prevent competition and carrots loosen soil
Repels aphids and flea beetles that commonly attack brassicas
Repel aphids and other soft-bodied insects that attack brassicas
Cool-season herb that attracts beneficial predatory insects
Attracts beneficial insects that prey on cabbage pests
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control cabbage pests
Attracts beneficial insects and may repel cabbage pests
Natural pest deterrent, repels cabbage maggots and aphids
Shares similar growing conditions and doesn't compete for nutrients
Similar growing conditions and harvest timing, compatible root systems
Similar growing conditions and shallow roots, efficient space usage
Repel nematodes and various garden pests through natural compounds
Deter flea beetles and cabbage worms that commonly attack tatsoi
Acts as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles
Act as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, drawing them away from tatsoi
Act as trap crops for aphids and flea beetles
Strong scent deters cabbage worms and aphids that attack brassicas
Quick germination helps break soil crust for tatsoi seeds, pest deterrent
Break up soil for shallow tatsoi roots and deter flea beetles
Quick-growing radishes help break up soil and deter flea beetles
Similar cool-season preferences and water requirements
Compatible growth habits and both benefit from cool weather
Compatible cool-season crops with similar water and nutrient needs
✗ Keep away from
Competes for same nutrients and attracts similar pests like cabbage worms
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most vegetables including brassicas
Competition for nutrients and potential for shared brassica-specific diseases
Can shade low-growing tatsoi and compete for soil nutrients
Root systems compete and strawberries may inhibit brassica growth
Different water and nutrient requirements can inhibit brassica development
Different water and nutrient requirements may stunt microgreen growth
Different watering needs and tomatoes may stunt brassica growth
Heavy feeders that compete for nutrients and may stunt brassica growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
