Merlot Chinese Cabbage (F1 Hybrid 60 Days)

Merlot Chinese Cabbage lavender-colored leaves inside and out. Picturesque bicolored heads look just as beautiful in your garden as they do on your plate. The mosaic of deep lavender, green, and white colored leaves are striking in kimchee, stir-fries, and salads. This Napa type grows to 10 inches and is the quintessential ingredient in Chinese and Korean Cuisine. Merlot Chinese Cabbage is s great fall crop as well.       

30 seeds

PLANTING

Brassica rapa var. pekinensis

Germination: 7-12 days

Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 65-85ºF.

Seed Sowing Depth: 1/4” deep

Starting Indoors: 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot. Thin to the strongest seedling. Fertilize the seedlings every 7-10 days with a liquid or water soluble fertilizer, diluted to ¼ of the suggested measurement. Transplant a week or two before the last frost, keeping in mind that multiple nights in a row with temperatures under 50ºF may cause bolting. Space 12-18" apart. Sow in midsummer for fall crops. 

Sowing Outdoors: Spring when soil temperature reaches at least 55ºF. Sow 2-3 seeds every 12-15” apart for small headed varieties, 20-30” for large headed varieties. Thin to the strongest seedling per space. Sow in midsummer for fall crops. Germination is slower at lower soil temperatures.

How much does a packet plant: 15-20 foot single row

Harvest:  If the heads feel solid by pushing on them lightly they are ready to harvest. Harvest as soon as possible for early varieties to prevent splitting. Later maturing varieties will hold longer.

Tips: Merlot Chinese Cabbage needs to be provided with fertile soil, rich in organic matter from the very beginning of its growth in the garden. Provide adequate, even moisture for the best growth. Mulching helps retain moisture. Bolting happens when the plants are under stressful conditions such as heat, water, and night temperatures under 50ºF.