Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, komatsuna is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing komatsuna.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Komatsuna Belong To?
Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis) belongs to the Brassicaceae family, also known as the cabbage family.
Some of its relatives include tatsoi, kale, and kohlrabi.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Komatsuna?
The minimum container depth recommended for komatsuna is 10 inches.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Komatsuna?
Some of komatsuna's best companions are as follows:
- Peas
- Mizuna
- Beet
- Chard
- Corn
- Onion
- Leek
- Shallot
- Chives
- Garlic
- Ramps
- Celery
- Catmint
- Catnip
- Dill
- Thyme
- Artichoke
- Lemon balm
- Calendula
- Peppermint
- Cucumber
- Oregano
- Basil
- Spinach
- Orach
- Chamomile
- Lettuce
- Lovage
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Komatsuna?
Komatsuna is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with komatsuna are as follows:
- Sunflower
- Fennel
- Peppers like jalapeño and bell pepper
- Tomato
- Strawberry
What Soil Conditions Does Komatsuna Need?
Komatsuna prefers fertile, nitrogen-rich, well-draining soil.
How Long Does Komatsuna Take to Germinate?
Komatsuna takes 4-10 days to germinate at a temperature of 55-80°F.
How Much Sun Does Komatsuna Need?
Komatsuna can grow in full sun to part shade.
In other words, it grows fastest in full sun. It will still grow in dappled shade or part shade, just at a slower rate.
If grown in part shade, it does best with morning sun and afternoon shade. See the Gardening in Part Shade article here to learn more about morning and afternoon shade.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and komatsuna grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Komatsuna Need?
Komatsuna needs 2-3 deep watering sessions per week in most conditions.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Komatsuna?
Komatsuna grows fastest in temperatures of 45-95°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some komatsuna varieties are bred for autumn harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Does Komatsuna Get?
The average height of komatsuna is 12-18 inches.
Is Komatsuna Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Komatsuna is a biennial vegetable, meaning that its life cycle spans 2 years, and it flowers, produces seed, and dies in its second year.
How Does Komatsuna Reproduce?
Komatsuna reproduces by seed.
How Much Komatsuna is Produced Per Plant?
For komatsuna, how much is produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type of komatsuna and, at times, the variety. It also depends harvesting method and frequency.
If the whole bunch is harvested at once, it will likely have 10-15 leaves.
But komatsuna is a "cut and come again" leafy green, so leaves can be harvested from the outside of the plant throughout its lifetime. Frequent harvesting encourages it to produce more leaves more quickly, and new leaves grow from the middle.
Again, this method depends on harvesting frequency and other conditions, but you could certainly end up with 20-30+ leaves per plant throughout the growing season.
Can Komatsuna Be Ingested?
Komatsuna leaves and stems are edible.
Komatsuna does not have any known uses in herbal preparations.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting komatsuna leaves or stems.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of komatsuna rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for komatsuna here!
Komatsuna is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: