Tokyo bekana

(Brassica rapa)

Combines the best features of lettuce and pak choi: mild, sweet, succulent, with broad, tender petioles. Fast-growing, cold- and heat-tolerant, this is ideal for salads or stir-fries.  A non-heading relative of Chinese cabbage; Tokyo Bekana’s ancestors came to Japan from the mainland in the late 19^th or early 20^th century, and it was then developed into its present form by gardeners and seed producers in the Tokyo area. As an indication of just how good it is, it was one of the first vegetables grown on the International Space Station in 2017! It was chosen for its quick maturation, compact growth habit, and flavour.