So what do you get when you purchase a plantlet or offshoot? What can you do with them? What's the best growing conditions?
First, you get a plant that is robust and will sprout new greens nearly year-round. Enjoy them by eating them or looking at their robust growth or both.
Plant them in your garden. Make sure it has full shade from about March 1 through about Nov. 1 (depending on latitude and temperature to be sure). If the plants get direct sunlight they will wilt rather quickly but they will recover overnight meaning they will standup and regain their form. After the plants have grown for 3 to 6 months start harvesting the leaves and stems as long as the apical meristem is sending new leaves. The top leaves are for harvesting just like other brassicas such as kale. The plant wants to grow out of off the top (meristem) and will readily send out more leaves and stems. In the photos I've cut some stems and leaves off and there are smaller leaves below just waiting to replace those I cut. (To enjoy them, I had them in a stir fry and they were delicious.)
This time year the plants will flower. The flowers can be harvested and steeped in hot water to make tea, breaded tempura style (rather traditional), put on top of noodle soup for garnish or raw in a salad or flavor of your green tea.
This plant is light phobic. Don't plant it next to your tomatoes. Plant them under the rhododendron instead. See our website for more information growing wasabi.
Enjoy!
