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Post by ottawagardener on Nov 20, 2015 8:55:40 GMT -5
I grow it though it doesn't overwinter here (or hasn't yet). Can't recall the swollen base. I'll have to go check.
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Post by rowan on Jun 19, 2016 23:58:21 GMT -5
Just an update I have just pulled up a bed from my last lot of Vivid choi selected for bulbing. I am happy with the larger percentage of plants showing the bulbing trait and that I will be able to keep all the petiole colours too. I have chosen the 14 plants with the best bulbs to grow on over winter to flower in spring. I think the bulbs are slightly bigger than the plants they come from but it will be a couple more years till they are, in my opinion, useful.  |
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Post by philagardener on Jun 20, 2016 5:10:10 GMT -5
Those look great, rowan ! How was the taste/texture on the others? |
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Post by rowan on Jun 20, 2016 14:12:15 GMT -5
I didn't taste these ones. The bulbs I have tasted in the past were much milder then the leaves and had a nice, firm texture like swede/rutabaga
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 20, 2016 18:51:19 GMT -5
Rowan, these are mild in my garden during winter and spring. But once we hit March, they get strong! (Yeah, I know for the rest of you March is barely Spring). It's only June and it's 97 here. So, this year I had exactly one picking of peas. I got to taste 8 purple peas, before they up and gave up the ghost.
I had noticed that about 25% of my crop bulbed up. For those of you who think they are strong, try picking them when they are only 6 inches tall.
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Post by rowan on Jun 20, 2016 20:27:57 GMT -5
In my climate they are strong even when small  |
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Post by steev on Jun 20, 2016 20:47:21 GMT -5
Oh, you Strines! Always bragging about your robustitude, innit?
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Post by shoshannah on Jul 25, 2016 13:39:32 GMT -5
I have the seed but haven't yet planted it. Rowan, have you tasted the roots yet?
I noticed the ones you selected were mostly purple.
Frank Morton mentioned that the vivid choy shoots up spring rapini. I don't like the taste of raab.
I think I'll try crossing it with gailan and see if that improves the taste.
Susan
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Post by shoshannah on Jul 26, 2016 11:49:23 GMT -5
Whoops, I forgot that gailan is not in the B. rapa family. Anyone have any suggestions of milder tasting rapini cultivers.
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Post by rowan on Feb 13, 2017 4:02:24 GMT -5
Just an update on my Vivid Choi root project. This is the fourth generation and the roots are getting more even, both in colour (unfortunately) and shape. I was expecting to be getting round roots but they are all becoming more carrot shaped. The flavour is still much milder than the leaves which is my aim but I am still working on growing them larger.  I have just pulled up a small bed and replanted the ones with the best roots today. |
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Post by philagardener on Feb 13, 2017 6:30:25 GMT -5
Great color! This is coming along nicely, Rowan!
Interesting how the crowns seem to have poor apical dominance and sprout multiple shoots. That was less evident in last year's pictures but may be variability of a small sample size.
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Post by rowan on Feb 13, 2017 13:14:04 GMT -5
The extra crown sprouting was caused by rabbits eating the tops off when they were smaller. I have had a sever rabbit problem over the last few months eating everything. Luckily the leaves seemed to get a bit strong in flavour for them as they matured.
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Post by philagardener on Feb 13, 2017 18:07:22 GMT -5
Generally, I find animals seem to have excellent taste in vegetables. (Some will no doubt say in stew!  ) |
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Post by ottawagardener on Nov 5, 2017 15:35:07 GMT -5
Nie bulbing.
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Post by steev on Nov 5, 2017 21:21:54 GMT -5
Re: philagardener; I agree; the locals around the farm all bletch at the plentiful rabbits/hares on the ground that they all "have warbles in their backs"; now, I get the ickiness of an intramuscular parasite in one's food, but are those suckers in the legs? I'd be happy enough eating only bunny drumsticks and tossing the rest out for the coyotes, who would also be happy, I'm sure. I must do some research, as the idea of eating the plentiful rabbits/hares on the farm attracts me, but experiences in Latin America do tend to bias me away from internal parasites.
BTW, I still grow vivid choi from you via Holly.
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