Topic: What is this...?

[mpainter]

Hi All,
We were given a tray of seedlings via our neighbour's son's friend's father.  As they have grown it appears we have some chard, spinach, a type of brassica (not sure what it is until it does something more than produce leaves) and something else.  It's the something else we are having trouble identifying.

Can anyone shed any light on what they are?

Thanks,
Mark.

[mpainter]

And this time with images!

[froglets]

Hmm,  difficult to say, but possibly radish or turnip? - I'd suggect looking under the leaves to see what's happening at soil level.   ???

[mpainter]

Thanks froglets.
I should probably given an indication of size - it's currently about 30cm across.  In the second image you can just make out a bit of my hand.

Mark.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

why not try eating a bit and see what it tastes of? Looks like pac choi to me

[OllieC]

It's very healthy Pak Choi.

[moonbells]

Look like romaine (cos) lettuces to me. They start off flattish and gradually heart up.

moonbells

[antipodes]

dunno about the unidentified one, and I am far from being an expert but the brassicas look a bit like brussels. If the leaves are quite rounded they are probably brussels, if they are a bit curly round the edge they might be broccoli.

[RosieMcPosie]

i agree with moonbells, looks like lettuce!

[calendula]

I'll go with the Pal choi decision - you can just see the white stems

[OllieC]

I'll go with the Pal choi decision - you can just see the white stems

You should go with this because it's correct!

[mpainter]

Thanks for all the replies.  Assuming it's pak choi when do I harvest?  I've done a bit of searching on the site and there are some good suggestions for cooking it but I can't find much about when/how it grows.  When do the hearts form? And can I just cut off some of the outer leaves and allow the stems to form later?

(If it turns out to be lettuce I know what to do with that!)  

As ever, thanks.

[shaunster]

you can harvest pac choi when you like, young leaves are great raw in salads and left to grow bigger they are lovely for stir fry's
even treat it as you would cut n come again lettuce .. and you will get several cuts from one plant

[Barnowl]

Some varieties of Pak Choi tend to bolt at this time of year so keep an eye on it  :)

[froglets]

That's why I ddn't think of that - mine went from tiddly to bolted in the space of a week, haven't seen what it looks liek at that size   ;D

[lawrence]

My opinion is that this is a chinese cabbage, Nice wok fried with a bit o bacon

[OllieC]

Pak Choi is a type of Chinese cabbage.