Organic Black Knight Tatsoi Seeds

Tatsoi is a tasty and easy to grow green! Our Black Knight variety is spoon-shaped, thick, and compact. Like all tatsoi, it has a high vitamin content. If you don’t know the joys of growing tatsoi in your garden, you are missing out! This fuss-free plant produces copious amounts of spoon-shaped greens that are essential to many Asian recipes. Every year we grow tatsoi in the cool season and have more than we can use.

Planting by Zones

Zones 9-10

• Tatsoi is a cool season crop that can tolerate warmer weather without becoming bitter. In Zones 9 and 10, it is happiest from fall to late spring but can be grown almost year-round in mild areas. Use row cover and shade cloth to extend the growing season. Tatsoi is easily direct-seeded or transplanted out.

Zones 2-8

• Sow seeds early in spring through mid-summer. Row cover can extend the growing season. Tatsoi is a cold-hardy plant.

Planting Black Knight Tatsoi

• Tatsoi is easy to plant directly in the soil or into starter pots and transplanted out.
• To direct sow, plant seeds in debris-free, well-worked soil that has been deeply watered. Cover with 1/4″ of finely sifted soil.
• If using starter pots, plant seeds into thoroughly moist high-quality seed starting soil. Place seeds on the top of the soil and cover with 1/4″ of finely sifted soil.
• Fertilize with an organic liquid fertilizer once your tatsoi has germinated and have a first set of true leaves.
• When the plants are 3-4″ tall you can plant them out into the garden. If you are planting out during a warm spell or during the warm season, crop protection like shade cloth may be necessary.

Growing Black Knight Tatsoi

• Grow in full sun most parts of the year. In warmer months tatsoi can take some shade. Use shade cloth to protect the crop if the weather is particularly hot.
• Tatsoi greens require good soil moisture. For Zones 9 and 10, this may mean hand watering daily or providing regular irrigation.
• Tatsoi is easy to grow and does not suffer from many pest or disease issues. Plant with adequate spacing to ensure good airflow around the plants.

Harvesting Tatsoi

• Tatsoi greens can be harvested at any point they are worth eating. Tender young leaves are often harvested when they are between 3-6″ long. Simply strip the greens leaves from the plants and consume raw or stir-fried. Harvest before flowering for the best flavor.

Growing Tatsoi in Containers

• Tatsoi is a great container crop. Make sure your container is at least 10″ deep. Keep in mind containers will dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture. Mulch heavily on the top layer of soil in the pot to keep the soil from drying out or heating up too much.

Southern California Pro-tips

• In Zones 9 and 10, tatsoi can be grown almost year-round but they will be less productive during the hottest months.
• Mulch heavily around your plants to ensure the soil does not dry out or heat up too much.
• Protect plants during heat spells with shade cloth or row cover.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Grow alyssum, nasturtium, and gaillardia around your tatsoi plants for beauty and to attract beneficial insects.

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics!
• Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube page!
• Having pest issues? Check out in-depth information for pests that can be an issue to tatsoi at the UC Integrated Pest Management site.

What do Pac Choi, Daikon radish, Mizuna mustard, Black Knight Tatsoi, and Tokyo onion have in common? They’re all essential ingredients for Asian dishes we love to make and eat! Be sure to include them in your cool-season garden as you decide What Vegetables to Plant in Fall.