Commercial production
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland.
- Figure 1. The related Japanese vegetables, mizuna (left) and mibuna (right)
Mizuna and mibuna are very popular Japanese leafy vegetables with the scientific name, Brassica rapa var. nipposinica or var. japonica. Mizuna grows as a giant rosette of finely dissected, feathery leaves, which are dark, glossy green. This rosette can grow to 23 cm high and can spread to 45 cm. Mibuna is closely related to mizuna, its leaves tend to be longer and narrower having rounded tips.
Climate and soil
Mizuna is a very hardy plant being both heat and cold tolerant. It usually grows better in wet conditions and if subjected to dry conditions, growth may appear stunted and plants will bolt prematurely. Mizuna grows best in an open site and although usually grown during spring and autumn it can grow well in summer if light shade is provided. Mibuna is less adapted to extremes than mizuna and can bolt from spring sowings if it is too cold. Mizuna and mibuna can grow on a wide range of soil types but prefer to be grown on rich, loamy soils with high water retention.
Cultivation
Mizuna and mibuna are grown as seedlings, semi-mature or mature plants. They can be sown in situ or into a seed-bed and then transplanted 2 to 3 weeks after sowing. Plants to be used when young should be 10 cm apart, those to be cut frequently for their leaves, 20 cm apart and larger plants 30 to 40 cm apart.
Mizuna and mibuna prefer to be grown in raised beds with a good supply of water. Water mizuna and mibuna at least daily or twice daily.
Pests and disease
Slugs and bacterial rots are the common pests of mizuna and mibuna and can be managed by using registered pesticides.
Harvesting, storage and marketing
Two to five weeks after sowing, the heads (or rosette) can be harvested whole by cutting at the base with a sharp knife. Alternatively, individual leaves may be regularly cut from plants so that a fresh crop is continually being produced. As many as five cuts from one plant over 10 months may be made. Mizuna and mibuna are best stored between 1 and 5°C at a relative humidity of 90 to 95%. Common postharvest defects include yellowed or decayed leaves and loss of moisture. Mizuna and mibuna are usually sold in bunches of two to four plants when harvested whole, or their leaves are used in minimally-processed salads.
Sources of additional information
- Larkcom, J. (1991), Oriental Vegetables. John Murray (Publishers) Ltd, London.
DPI&F information and services
- To access DPI&F's information and services, Queensland residents can contact the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 for the cost of a local call, from 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). E-mail callweb@dpi.qld.gov.au. Non-Queensland residents phone (07) 3404 6999.
- Current national information on agricultural chemicals registered for use on all crops is available on the Infopest CD-ROM. Write to DPI&F, GPO Box 46, Brisbane, Qld 4001, E-mail infopest@dpi.qld.gov.au, visit the Infopest web page, or phone (07) 3239 3967 for further information.
Industry links
- Industry links is a page of links to various sites of interest to horticultural growers.
Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.
Last updated 20 September 2007
