Growing your own vegetables can be adventurous, both in the garden, and later in the kitchen. Most vegetable gardens have lettuce, potatoes, carrots, onions etc., but gardeners can kick it up a notch by trying something new, such as Asian vegetables. McKenzie seeds has a line of Asian vegetables that will get many gardeners and cooks excited. There are over 20 different varieties of vegetables and some of them are quite different.

There are four different types of beans that will give the gardener bragging rights for the longest bean. The 'Yard Long Orient Wonder pole Bean', sometimes called the Asparagus bean grows 38-45 cm long. It needs 60-70 days till maturity. A faster growing bean (according to the packet it takes 50 days) is the 'Bean Green Long' It is an easy to grow, trailing plant with beans that grow up 85cm long and weigh 25 grams. Another fast growing bean is the 'Bean Long Zi 28-2' which sounds good for our area as it is resistant to cold weather. If you are looking to add colour to your garden, try planting the pole bean 'Red Noodle' which has 40-50 cm burgundy beans.

Also available are different varieties of Asian greens. They are easy to grow and grow quickly, especially 'Komatsuna' (spinach mustard) which only needs 35 days and has similar growing requirements to spinach. There are two types of Pak Choi, 'Mie Qing Choi' and Pakchoi Cantong White'. Also available is the 'China Express Cabbage' which is often found in the produce aisle of supermarkets. Another green that looks interesting is the 'Early Misuna Mustard Spinach' which is a Japanese mustard that is used in salads or can be cooked. There is a hybrid chinese kale called 'Green Lance' that looks like small broccoli stems and grows similar to broccoli, because when the main stem is harvested the plant produces side branches.

Many Asian stir fries include snow peas which has been available in the seed racks for years. In the Asian Vegetables section of McKenzie there are two different varieties available. 'Snowflake' and 'Taichung Tc11' Both varieties do not need to be staked and take 58-68 days to grow.

Radishes are a favourite crop in many gardens because they are easy to grow and tasty to eat. The two Asian varieties 'Radish Watermelon' and 'Radish Minowase' are very different looking from the regular radishes you may be used to. 'Watermelon' has a white skin and bright red flesh and 'Minowase' looks like a long white carrot which is said to have a “unique taste”.

Other vegetables to look for in the Asian section is 'Eggplant Ping Tung Long'. The fruit grows 25-30 cm long making it ideal for slicing. 'Evergreen White Nibuka Asian' is a multi stemmed type of green onion. 'Okra Penta Dragon' is a dwarf okra, growing 70 cm tall making it good for container growing. Start the seed indoors following the directions given on the seed packet, as there is some degree of difficulty to starting Okra.

Adding fresh herbs to any dish adds good flavour. There are three herb varieties in the Asian Vegetables. Coriander (Yuen Sai), Garlic Chives, and Lemon Basil.

McKenzie seeds has made it easy for those gardeners who like to cook Asian food, by placing all their Asian seed varieties in one section. Many of these seed varieties are not available as bedding plants, so if you want to grow your own Asian vegetables you will have to start them from seed.

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George

• Highway 16 West at Kimball Road
• Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road