Mei Qing Choi F1 (hybrid)

I bought a packet of Mei Qing Choi F1 seeds in autumn this year from Phoenix seeds company. Mei Qing Choi F1 is a hybrid variety producing very compact pak choi about half the size of the standard cultivators. Petioles are a soft green and form a thick base to the plant even in the young stages. Shows good bolt resistance and is tolerant of heat and cold, making it relatively simple to cultivate. I tested this seeds in spring and the germination was very good. Seedlings ready to be transplanted.

Germination in summer is also very good so far. But this time I direct sowed them where I want them to grow so we avoid heat-shock from transplanting. Since this leafy vegetables can be harvest anytime it is very convenient. This seedlings grow so fast benefit from direct sowing and the warmer temperature that we begun to have.

Different stages of Mei Qing Choi F1 growth.

I found that this hybrid is pest and disease resistance. I have been busy and not been able to check cabbage white butterfly eggs and caterpillars underside the leaves. However, this variety still look not that bad. The other non-hybrid leaf vegetables usually are almost bare without any leaves only the stem were left for us from the pest or can it be that odour from onions that were previouly grown here still strongly linger. Some of them has gone through the cut and come again stage and the leaves grow back really fast.

This hybrid is very heat-tolerant as well from my trial conclusion growing them. It will be interesting to test them in cooler weather to see whether it will quick to bolt or not. In comparison with red choi which is another hybrid that I tested this year, Mei Qing Choi F1 is not showing any bolting sign yet even though it is now summer and we had extreme hot weather this week. The red choi has already started to bolt. I did sowed some Mei Qing Choi F1 seeds this week and it has popped up in less than a week.  Mei Qing Choi F1 ready to be harvested.

A close up look of Mei Qing Choi F1 that has been watered recently in the late afternoon feeling fresh after withstanding the above 40 degree Celcius temperature for a few days now during the day.

Our main harvest for this week.