Komatsuna Red Japanese Spinach

(Lycopersicon esculentum )

A popular crimson red medium tomato with great taste that tolerates low night temperatures, so it is ideal for cooler area. A Russian heirloom that is an early producer. A tough and vigorous producer that needs staking.

An attractive cultivar medium sized, scarlet red fruit that is full of flavour. Tolerant of cool night temperatures and ideal for cool climate gardens

Flavours/Food Partners

A rich flavored tomato that partners well with Latin herbs like garlic, oregano, marjoram, rosemary and thyme. Use with any good salad vegetable, Nasturtium flowers and mixed fresh herbs to make an attractive and tasty salad.

Health/Cooking/Medicinal

Like all tomatoes, Red Russian is high in the cancer fighting agent, Lycopene and also Vitamin C. For a classic rich sauce cook and mix with garlic, marjoram, sweet basil, diced shallots, and fresh pizza thyme. Finely dice, mix finely chopped shallots, fresh pesto basil and extra virgin olive oil and place on lightly toasted Turkish bread then top with an anchovie for a special homemade bruschetta.

Landscaping/Planting

Plant in an airy, sunny position in well drained soil or very large pots. Requires a 1.1 to 1.4 m stake.

Cultivation/Fertiliser

Like all tomatoes it must receive a deep soaking when almost dry and should not receive overhead watering. Feed regularly with Seasol and Powerfeed. A small amount of dolomite lime after planting will make stronger plants. Remove side shoots and develop two or three main leaders. Harvest when fruit is full color

Herb Attributes

Position Full Sun
Height 1.2m
Width 50cm

Description

(Brassica rapa var. perviridis ‘Red’)

This is a classic leafy Japanese vegetable that the US often call Japanese Mustard Spinach. It is a fast-growing vegetable with attractive red green foliage and can be grown all year round in temperate and subtropical areas.

Flavours/Food Partners

This versatile vegetable partners well with simple herbs like parsley, chives, onions but also goes well with Asian type flavours like laksa leaf, coriander, ginger, garlic and chilli.

Health/Cooking/Medicinal

This is a real multi tasking vegetable that can be used in salads, stir fries and steamed as a side dish. Use in salads with a mixture of sweet herbs like mint, lime verbena and lime juice. Healthy vegetable that is high in iron. Do not over cook.

Landscaping/Planting

Plant in sunny position in well drained but moist soil. Also suited to large pots.

Cultivation/Fertiliser

Harvest young leaves regularly and remove flower stems as they appear. The more you harvest the better it produces. Fertilise with Seasol and Powerfeed regularly.

Herb Attributes

Position FULL SUN, MODERATE FROST
Height 45CM
Width 30CM