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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: mpainter on June 24, 2008, 12:04:54

Title: What is this...?
Post by: mpainter on June 24, 2008, 12:04:54
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.
(http://)(//)
Can anyone shed any light on what they are?

Thanks,
Mark.
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: mpainter on June 24, 2008, 12:07:09
And this time with images!

(http://www.thepainters.eclipse.co.uk/1.jpg)
(http://www.thepainters.eclipse.co.uk/2.jpg)
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: froglets on June 24, 2008, 12:09:18
Hmm,  difficult to say, but possibly radish or turnip? - I'd suggect looking under the leaves to see what's happening at soil level.   ???
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: mpainter on June 24, 2008, 12:11:47
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.
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on June 24, 2008, 12:27:25
why not try eating a bit and see what it tastes of? Looks like pac choi to me
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: OllieC on June 24, 2008, 12:58:54
It's very healthy Pak Choi.
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: moonbells on June 24, 2008, 12:59:26
Look like romaine (cos) lettuces to me. They start off flattish and gradually heart up.

moonbells
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: antipodes on June 24, 2008, 13:40:22
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.
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: RosieMcPosie on June 24, 2008, 13:48:18
i agree with moonbells, looks like lettuce!
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: calendula on June 24, 2008, 13:56:25
I'll go with the Pal choi decision - you can just see the white stems
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: OllieC on June 24, 2008, 14:33:57
Quote from: calendula on June 24, 2008, 13:56:25
I'll go with the Pal choi decision - you can just see the white stems

You should go with this because it's correct!
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: mpainter on June 24, 2008, 14:39:15
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.
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: shaunster on June 24, 2008, 14:57:09
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
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: Barnowl on June 24, 2008, 17:02:33
Some varieties of Pak Choi tend to bolt at this time of year so keep an eye on it  :)
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: froglets on June 24, 2008, 18:00:28
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
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: lawrence on June 25, 2008, 13:50:30
My opinion is that this is a chinese cabbage, Nice wok fried with a bit o bacon
Title: Re: What is this...?
Post by: OllieC on June 25, 2008, 14:08:56
Pak Choi is a type of Chinese cabbage.