Chrysanthemum coronarium, Oriental Salad Shungiku, Garland Chrysanth, A two-fold surprise for the salad & the bees. An edible chrysanthemum (chop suey greens) is a great addition to your salad or stir-fry or as a quickly picked nibble. With a pleasant, sweet but peppery, slightly fragrant aromatic flavour of the deeply cut (serrated), bright green foliage, harvest when at about 4 or 5 ins. Tall - 6 wks & successional sowing from Early Spring onwards. Let a few grow on to maturity & get a spectacular display of yellow & orange flowers that are a big hit with the bees, hoverflies & other beneficial insects, Annual, Seed Count Approx - 100 avg
SOWING - Make successional sowings from April onwards, Surface sow onto moist well-drained seed compost, press seeds gently into the soil & cover with a very fine sprinkling of soil. Cover the container or planting area. Germination takes up to 2 wks. Once germinated remove the covering & water lightly, Pluck as needed at about 10-12cm tall (about 6 to 10 weeks) Leave an odd plant to grow on as the attractive flowers will add a spot of colour to the vegetable garden