How to grow tatsoi in a raised bed

Tatsoi forms a pretty, flat rosette of dark, spoon-shaped leaves with a mild, sweet flavour — a hardy, quick Asian green that even shrugs off light frost in a raised bed.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun to part shade
• Spacing: 20 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 23 cm depth
• Time to harvest: 6–8 weeks

When should I plant tatsoi?

Tatsoi is a cool-season green and quite cold-hardy — sow from autumn through winter and into spring. Our free garden calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): February to September
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): February to May and August to November
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): September to March
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): April to August
• Arid inland: March to August

How do I grow tatsoi in a raised bed?

Sow directly into rich, moist mix. It forms a neat ground-hugging rosette. A brassica, so netting keeps cabbage whites off.

How often should I water and feed tatsoi?

Keep the mix evenly moist for sweet, tender leaves.

What pests attack tatsoi?

Keep an eye out for caterpillars, aphids and slugs and snails. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

What diseases affect tatsoi?

The main one is downy mildew, usually from damp, crowded conditions. Good airflow and morning watering prevent most.

What grows well with tatsoi?

Grows happily with other Asian greens and quick crops. See our companion planting guide.

When do I harvest tatsoi?

Pick individual leaves, or cut the whole rosette at the base. Lovely raw in salads or lightly wilted.

More growing guides: mizuna, mustard greens and pak choy.

Plan your patch: our free garden calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Idéalités, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.