Mitsuba Seeds - Cryptotaenia Japonica - Rare, Delicious, and Perennial
Quantity: 20 Seeds
Mitsuba is a very delicious yet relatively unknown member of the carrot family, Apiaceae. The Plants are perennial down to zone 4, and originate in Japan and China. Much like parsley, the leaves are highly aromatic, and can be used in all the same ways. The seeds taste amazing when toasted, ground into a powder, and added to soups, curries, and more. The plants have good cold resistance so their growing season extends well into the winter, depending on your growing zone. They're also are easy to grow, and don't require much attention other than regular waterings, and a good layer of mulch. The plants are disease and pest resistant too.
Growing Instructions:
It's best to start Mitsuba seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, or directly in the ground in the early spring. Sow them in a sterile growing medium; most available seed starting soils should do the job nicely; we use sunshine mix (peat moss and perlite). The soil should be made moist, but not damp. Sow the seeds 1/8 inch below the soil surface. Store in a warm area until tiny sprouts emerge from the soil. A heat mat aids in this step, but is not necessary. Seeds can take between 2-4 weeks to germinate, but they can sometimes take less time too. Once germinated, and the first true leaf has formed, it's time to pot up to a larger container that contains a good quality potting soil. Transplant to their final location in the ground when the nighttime temperatures are consistently 10°C or higher. They do best when spaced every 12 inches. Parsley grows best in full sun.
All seeds are organic and open pollinated.
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Growing Instructions
It's best to start Parsley seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; we start them here on the farm in March to ensure the plants grow as large as possible, but they can be sown as late as May for excellent results too. It's good to sow them in a sterile growing medium; most available seed starting soils should do the job nicely; we use sunshine mix (peat moss and perlite). The soil should be made moist, but not damp. Sow the seeds 1/8 inch below the soil surface. Store in a warm area until tiny sprouts emerge from the soil. A heat mat aids in this step, but is not necessary. Seeds can take between 2-4 weeks to germinate, but they can sometimes take less time too. Once germinated, and the first true leaf has formed, it's time to pot up to a larger container that contains a good quality potting soil. Transplant to their final location in the ground when the nighttime temperatures are consistently 10°C or higher. They do best when spaced every 12 inches. Parsley grows best in full sun.