Growing Tatsoi Baby Greens and Microgreens Indoors

Although the demand for micro-sized tatsoi (also spelled tat soi) greens is growing rapidly, they are still rarely available in supermarkets. The good news: tatsoi microgreens, the young seedlings of tatsoi mustard, are easy and fast to grow indoors in plastic containers. They are also incredibly healthy as they provide an abundance of nutrients. For instance, tatsoi microgreens have been reported to deliver vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, and minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and even iron. They are also a great source chlorophyll. Follow the sowing and growing tips below and you will be rewarded with gorgeous mini-sized tatsoi mustard leaves that can be used to add texture, flavor, and nutrients to salads and sandwiches.

Step 1

Purchase tatsoi seeds from a certified organic source. Note that tatsoi seeds may also be sold by the alternative names of this Japanese bok choy variety which include spinach mustard, spoon mustard, and rosette bok choy.

Step 2

Add a one-inch thick layer of fine and sterile potting soil to a clean container. Scatter tatsoi seeds over the potting soil, being careful to distribute them as evenly as possible.

Step 3

After sowing, find a place for your container. For best results, we recommend placing your container in a sunny spot. Ideally, your tatsoi microgreens should get at least six hours of sun each day. Although bok choy needs sunlight to grow, it does not like to grow in hot temperatures as it is a cool season crop.

Step 4

After planting, pay close attention to watering. The soil should stay moist, but it should never be soggy! If you allow the roots or seeds of your tatsoi microgreens to sit in water, they will be starved of oxygen and "drown". During the germination process, mist the soil gently with a spray bottle every morning. Once your tatsoi microgreens are growing well, water them once a day with a small watering can.

Step 5

Harvest your tatsoi microgreens when they reach a size you like, after about 8 to 14 days from sowing. Most people harvest tatsoi microgreens when the seedlings are 2 to 3 inches tall and have developed small leaves. To harvest micro-tatsoi, cut the sturdy seedlings just above the soil with sharp kitchen shears.

Tatsoi microgreens are harvested just before use, which helps keep their nutritional properties intact. Tatsoi microgreens have been reported to provide potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, chlorophyll, and vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. Although tatsoi is classified as an Asian mustard, it has a very mild flavor compared to most other mustards. With their mild mustard flavor, tatsoi microgreens are ideal for people who would like to add a little bit of extra zing to their salads, without an over-powering mustard flavor.

Step 6

Once you've used your tatsoi microgreens, start a new tatsoi micrgreen crop, or try growing other microgreens indoors. If you liked the mild mustard flavor of micro-tatsoi, you might also want to grow baby bok choy indoors. Baby bok choy boasts a flavor similar to tatsoi microgreens. Other easy-to-grow microgreens and micro-sized shoots include snow pea shoots, sunflower shoots, garden cress, broccoli microgreens, and garland-chrysanthemum.