Mizuna is a quick growing oriental leaf that has a sweet, mild mustardy taste that gets stronger as the wide serrated (similar to rocket) leaves mature.
The baby-leaves can be used raw in salads or the larger leaves can be added last minute to stir-fries. It is increasing in popularity due to its wide use in pre-packed mixed leaf salads, but of course there is nothing fresher than picking from your own plot.
Mizuna can be picked/snipped a few leaves at a time as 'cut & come again' baby-leaves when they are about 10cm long or cut as a whole head all at once. Mizuna is quick & easy to crop and can be ready in as little as 3 weeks for baby-leaf or 8-10 weeks for a mature head.
It is slow to bolt making it tolerant of hot summer temperatures but do keep well watered in dry periods. It can be cropped through winter with added protection either with a cloche or in greenhouse, but it does not like it too wet or cold.
Mizuna is good for underplanting taller veg like sweetcorn or intercropping as it matures so quickly.
