Variety field guide
What to expect from Hiroshimana Seeds
Hiroshimana grows glossy green leaves with pale green midribs in a loose, leafy rosette.
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Hiroshimana grows glossy green leaves with pale green midribs in a loose, leafy rosette. The tender foliage lends itself to steaming, stir-frying and soup, while larger harvests are useful for pickling. Unlike a dense heading cabbage, it can be gathered at several stages to suit the meal. Grow a few plants for early greens and let others develop more fully, keeping the crop moist and harvesting before hot weather reduces quality.
Minimum seeds per packet: 100 seeds.
Glossy, versatile greens for fresh cooking and pickling.
Growing facts
- Botanical name: Brassica rapa
- Maturity or display: 45 days; 60-70 for larger plants
- Mature size: Loose leafy rosette; size varies with harvest stage
- Spacing: 12 in between plants; rows 18 in
About the variety
Hiroshimana is a Japanese loose-leaf Chinese cabbage grown for tender greens. A leafy harvest can begin around 45 days; larger plants develop over roughly 60-70 days.
Starting seed
Sow 1/4-1/2 in. deep for mild spring weather or late-summer planting. Keep moist at 60-70 F; allow about 4-10 days to sprout. Thin to 12 in. apart, rows 18 in. apart. Use sun and fertile soil; prolonged cold or heat may trigger bolting.
Care through the season
Maintain even moisture and remove weeds while small. Rotate brassica beds and use insect netting before flea beetles or caterpillars arrive. Grow for a cool harvest; extended cold on young plants can induce flowering, and summer heat can reduce leaf quality. Fall sowings often avoid spring cold followed by heat.
Harvest and use
Begin gathering usable greens around 45 days from sowing; allow 60-70 days for larger plants. Cut at the base before bolting, then refrigerate or pickle. For seed, isolate flowering plants from other Brassica rapa and dry mature pods before threshing.
Saving seed
These open-pollinated brassicas are insect-pollinated. Keep several healthy, typical plants for seed and prevent crossing with other flowering varieties of the same species. Some plants need a cold period before flowering. Let pods mature, then cut and dry them under cover before they shatter; clean, label and store seed cool and dry.
Common problems
Check young leaves for flea beetle holes, aphids and caterpillars. Use row covers early, inspect regularly, and remove badly diseased plants. Crop rotation, drainage and steady watering help limit root disease and stress. A flowering stem means the leafy harvest is ending; use the leaves promptly.
Frequently asked questions
Does it form a tight head?
Hiroshimana grows glossy green leaves with pale green midribs in a loose, leafy rosette.
When should I harvest?
Begin gathering usable greens around 45 days from sowing; allow 60-70 days for larger plants. Cut at the base before bolting, then refrigerate or pickle. For seed, isolate flowering plants from other Brassica rapa and dry mature pods before threshing.
Why is it flowering early?
Maintain even moisture and remove weeds while small. Rotate brassica beds and use insect netting before flea beetles or caterpillars arrive. Grow for a cool harvest; extended cold on young plants can induce flowering, and summer heat can reduce leaf quality. Fall sowings often avoid spring cold followed by heat.
