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Post by rowan on Nov 13, 2015 15:25:42 GMT -5
I have been growing Vivid Choi for a couple of years and mine is always strongly tasting of mustard even when young. Are we sure it is B. rapa and not B.juncea?
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Post by raymondo on Nov 13, 2015 23:45:13 GMT -5
Is Vivid Choi a Frank Morton creation? Frank is unlikely to mistake the species, though it is possible of course. Why not email him and ask? I've done so before regarding other things. He seems happy to answer queries about his work. I notice though that a lot of sellers describe it as 'wonderfully mild and sweet'. Makes me wonder whether perhaps you've received a mixed up seed lot. You could always try a fresh batch of seeds direct from Frank and see if there's a difference.
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Post by rowan on Nov 14, 2015 0:31:39 GMT -5
You are right, I have sent of an email and see what he says  |
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Post by steev on Nov 14, 2015 1:14:37 GMT -5
I grow it; it is a tad hot after hot weather.
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Post by rowan on Nov 14, 2015 1:20:31 GMT -5
Just got an email back (boy he is quick). Frank says it is definitely B. rapa.
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Post by ferdzy on Nov 14, 2015 9:02:01 GMT -5
I got some seed (from Holly, I believe) a couple of years back. Our conclusion was it's very pretty, and grows like a weed (a good thing!) but the flavour was too strong for us.
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Post by raymondo on Nov 14, 2015 15:25:30 GMT -5
Seems that 'wonderfully mild and sweet' might be nothing more than advertising copy! I notice that Frank himself does not describe its flavour, only its hardiness and colour.
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Post by philagardener on Nov 14, 2015 15:50:09 GMT -5
rowan , I am intrigued by the bulbous bases on your plants (looking at the image you posted on your blog a while ago at garden-larder.blogspot.com/2013/11/vivid-choi.html ). Was that part edible? If it isn't typical (for the strain) maybe you had some crossing in your stock?
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Post by rowan on Nov 14, 2015 16:30:54 GMT -5
philagardener, Only about a quarter of the plants produce those bulbs which are milder in flavour than the leaves. I am guessing that it is typical as I have planted seeds from both the Wild Garden website and some seeds from Holly and both lots showed some bulbing. Since the leaves are so strong in taste I have wondered whether I might try selecting for larger coloured bulbs as the main edible part or just not grow them again at all. I suppose that now I have more space I might try selecting and see what comes of it.
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Post by philagardener on Nov 14, 2015 16:40:55 GMT -5
That's an interesting trait - I wonder where it comes from. Sounds like you have (another) nifty project on your hands :>)
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Post by rowan on Nov 14, 2015 16:52:37 GMT -5
Aaaahhh, not another one *sighs*
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Post by templeton on Nov 14, 2015 17:21:01 GMT -5
How's the new plot going, Rowan?
T
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Post by rowan on Nov 14, 2015 17:39:15 GMT -5
I am very pleased with it. It will take a year or so to get the soil right as it was so very poor to start with but I am happy so far.
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Post by rowan on Nov 17, 2015 21:24:58 GMT -5
Ok, so I went out this morning to my two beds of vivid choi, 80 plants with the intention of selecting for the best and biggest roots. I was planning to cull them to 20 plants but ended up with 28. After selection it looked like a bomb site, lol  I took out anything that didn't have an obvious swollen root. Some had these tiny swollen roots but I was after bigger ones than that.  Plants with this kind of root were left in the ground.  |
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Post by steev on Nov 17, 2015 23:53:54 GMT -5
Very interesting!
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