2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Asian vegetables have drawn ever-increasing attention due to a rapid increase in Asian population, health consciousness, and the desire for exotic and diversified vegetables. With high temperature and intense solar radiation in late summer and early fall in west Texas, suitable varieties should be identified for winter vegetable production. A field trial was conducted in El Paso to evaluate 12 Asian vegetables [Brassica rapa var. chinensis ‘Black Summer’, ‘Green Pac’, ‘Joi Choi’, ‘Li Ren Choi’, ‘Mei Qing Choi’, ‘Red Pac’, ‘Rosie’, ‘Shiro’, ‘Toy Choi’, ‘Win-Win Choi’ (pac choi); Brassica rapa ‘Autumn Torch’ (cabbage), Brassica rapa var. narinosa ‘Tatsoi’ (mustard). On 2 Sep. 2016, seeds were sown in Metro-mix 360 RSI Professional Growing Mix, and seedlings were grown in a greenhouse. On 26 Sep., all plants were transplanted into raised beds incorporated with 110 g·m^-2 Osmocote^® 18-6-12. All vegetables performed well. Seven weeks after transplanting (i.e. 14 Nov.), fresh weight reached to 418 ± 138 g per plant, while ‘Autumn Torch’ cabbage, ‘Shiro’, and ‘Toy Choi’ plants all flowered. Ten weeks later (i.e. 23 Jan. 2017), fresh weight reached to 682 ± 277 g per plant. The percent of plants bloomed was 100%, 94%, 92%, 77%, 75%, 41%, 41%, 16%, and 0% for ‘Li Ren Choi’, ‘Rosie’, ‘Red Pac’, tatsoi mustard, ‘Green Pac’, ‘Black Summer’, ‘Mei Qing Choi’, ‘Win-Win Choi’, and ‘Joi Choi’, respectively. Brix values of the vegetables were 2.8% and 6.6%, respectively, for both harvests. In summary, all vegetables are suitable for winter vegetable production in far west Texas and can be harvested as soon as the plant has reached a desirable size for fresh vegetable consumption to prevent bolting. ‘Autumn Torch’ cabbage, ‘Shiro’ and ‘Toy Choi’ plants bolted earlier than other cultivars. More field trials are needed to determine the proper transplanting or sowing dates for multiple cycles of production in the fall and spring.