Hon tsai tai ~Purple Choy sum

We have been harvesting some Asian veggies hon tsai tai this month. Hon tsai tai is also known as purple choy sum. Its like choi sum twin but the stems and leave veins are purple. Usually its difficult to differentiate the leaf of some brassicas at the stage of newly sprouted seeds as they look similar. However, as it is clearly can be seen that the stem of hon tsai tai newly sprouted seedlings are purple.

The first true leave sets of hon tsai tai.

Look ready to be transplanted.

Ready to be pick Hon Tsai Tai.

They are also enjoyed harvested when flowering.

Flower part is also edible.

Hon tsai tai flower resemble choy sum flower closely.

Have to be aware that this plant will cross-pollinate with other Asian veggies.

On cooler weather, the purple part of hon tsai tai will turn darker.

Time fly so fast!

I have not been updating my blog regularly this year.

Hope to catch up with you and see what you are posting in your blog soon.

Water dragon year is sure a busy year for me.

Top 3 main things for me this year:

 (1) Complete my PhD before middle of this year.

(2) Rayyan has to undergo another surgery schedule in May.

(3) Hormonal changes and welcoming a water dragon child.

I am counting on the luck and blessing no. (3) to help with smooth (1) and (2) journey.

Purple choi sum update

I thought Mik had already harvested all big enough to eat purple-flower choi sum  (hon tsai tai) growing in our patch. Growing amid the komatsuna and cauliflower, I found this hon tsai tai. Look at its stem very dark purple. No wonder Mik left it alone not ending up in the wok. This hon tsai tai stem has become more darker than previous observation. In my fascination admiring the stem colour , I did not notice a snail trying to hide itself behind the stick until I write this blog.As for the leaves, no doubt the caterpillar has already shape the leaves to its liking

Watch out for this caterpillar if you are gardening in Adelaide. Too many of them now.

Good Luck with caterpillar hunting!!

Purple Choy Sum

Hon Tsai Tai or known as ‘Purple Choy sum’. Sowed them last month and transplanted them to their permanent place 2 weeks ago. We look forward growing ‘Purple Choy sum’ as it has been said the stem become more purplish as the weather gets cooler.

Intercropping hon tsai tai with cauliflower to utilise space. We tried using coriander to prevent snail or cabbage butterfly from chomping the leaves. Not very effective this time . Hon tsai sai were planted near the fence and it is too far for me to stretch my body to  check for cabbage butterfly egg or caterpillar.

We could see different shade of purple colour hon tsai tai stem.

Mik was collecting seeds from English Daisy flower when she heard a loud bang on the sliding door window. To her surprise she had to rescue a fainted bird. Mik pampered the bird I reckon cause it gets very comfortable in the house and is not afraid of us. The bird had 5 fresh fat caterpillar pick from vegetable leaves for tea and chook food for dinner. Mik even made the bird its own little nest with tissue box and put in on top of the kitchen cupboard. The bird did not attempt to fly outside when it is much warmer in the house then outside. Clever little bird. Of course the kids are excited too.