Osaka Purple (Red Mustard, or "Aka Takana")
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Brassicaceae
Brassica juncea
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Osaka Purple (Red Mustard, or "Aka Takana") on:
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Height:
12-18 in. (30-45 cm) |
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Order of Mustard |
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Main, Real, Two First-Leaves (Dicots) |
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Real, Two First-Leaves (Dicots) |
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Half Capsule Seed Division |
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Magnolia Division |
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Multiple Spore Sub-Kingdom |
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Multicellular Land Plants |
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Cells with a Nucleus |
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Family: Brassicaceae (brass-ih-KAY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus: Brassica (BRAS-ee-ka) (Info)
Species: juncea (JUN-kee-uh) (Info)
Cultivar: Osaka Purple
Called aka takana in Japan.
Spacing:
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Bloom Color:
Pale Yellow
Bright Yellow
Bloom Time:
Mid Spring
Late Spring/Early Summer
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Provides winter interest
Suitable for growing in containers
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Thick, tender leaves are succulent and finely-flavored.
40 days (mature) or 20 days (baby greens). At last, a Mustard Green so showy it just may do for this nutritious family what Bright Lights did for Swiss Chard -- put it in every garden and on every table of gardeners who love bold colors and fresh flavor in their veggies! Red Giant is a brilliant maroon with deep green midribs, so showy you may just have to plant two crops -- one in the veggie patch and one along the walkway or in your annual border!
These leaves are slightly textured for a better bite and good holding power. The flavor is zesty and full, with a good bite that you just can't find in store-bought mustard greens. Imagine Red Giant flanking your Pansies and cheery Mums in the fall garden, or nestling beside bold Ornamental Cabbage and Kale. Or put it in bright containers for an unforgettable patio or porch display!
And because you pick this mustard leaf by leaf for eating (instead of uprooting the entire plant, as you do for head lettuce), you can enjoy the fine display of color for many weeks! Frost just improves the flavor and color.
Sow seed outdoors in early spring or, for fall crops, 6 to 8 weeks before first fall frost. Space seedlings 1 to 2 inches apart in rows 15 inches apart. Pkt is 100 seeds.
On Apr 30, 2009, Gymgirl from Houston, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:
The Osaka Purple is a beautiful plant in and of itself. I'd plant it just for the brilliant purple color and the curly texture of the leaves. Second, when eaten raw, this plant gets hot as you chew it. The more you masticate the juices, the hotter it gets in your mouth. But -- and here's the fascinating part -- while you get all the taste of hot in your mouth, your mouth does not burn! And even though your brain is saying, "my mouth is on fire," once you stop getting the juices, you realize your mouth is not burning! It sorta reminds you of horse radish, and I imagine chewing a large piece would probably hit you just like a mouthful of horse radish (and, no, I haven't been that brave!)Tiny pieces of the leaves would be great broken up in a fresh green salad. But, the whole hot/taste thing doesn't happen once it's cooked. Last fall season I loved taking folks on walking tours of my veggie garden and having them chew on a tiny piece! They loved it!
Osaka Purple (Red Mustard) - Plant
Osaka Purple (Red Mustard) - Plant - June 06, 2009
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| Comment:
Osaka Purple (Red Mustard, or "Aka Takana"), Brassica juncea |
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