GROW YOUR OWN!
This is your chance to grow your own wasabi at home. The wasabi plant you receive is a large plant, more than 6 months old. The large heart-shaped leaves will immediately be a nice addition to your garden or balcony. They are well rooted to survive the summer heat and are frost resistant. With proper care you will grow your own wasabi rhizome within 2 years. The other parts of the plant are also edible. For more information visit our growing guide below.
Wasabi Growing Guide
Wasabi is a beautiful rare plant with heart-shaped leaves and the plant produces spikes of tiny white blooms in early spring. Wasabi is a brassica and is closely related to mustard and cabbage plants.
Wasabi is a flavor enhancer for food. This beautiful plant is well worth the challenge, so get ready to grow something out-of-the-ordinary with this Wasabi grow guide.
Growing Location
As a member of the brassica family, it is also a cool-season plant that will not grow in a hot environment. Wasabi grows naturally on the shaded wet banks of cold mountain streams.
Wasabi cannot handle the intensity of the summer sun. When grown in a home garden or an indoor container, Wasabi does best in full shade. A little dappled sunlight, especially in winter times, is acceptable. Plant on the south side of a structure under taller plants when growing Wasabi outdoors.
Growing Season
Wasabi can be grown year-round under the right conditions. Plant in late winter for a spring harvest and autumn for a winter harvest. As long as the plant is kept shaded, cool, and well hydrated it will be happy and productive.
Water and Food
Water the plant daily. Remember its natural habitat is alongside creeks so it must have plenty of water to survive. The plant stem will droop at the first sign of thirst - give the plant a drink and it will recover. Feed Wasabi a balanced fertilizer every 3-months.
How To Plant
Wasabi plants can reach 50 cm in height, so space plants at least 30 cm apart when planting outdoors or grow one plant in a 30 cm container indoors.
The soil must be well-draining and have a pH between 6-7. The fertilizer should already be combined into the soil before planting Wasabi.
Plant seedling only deep enough to keep it upright. Being sure that all of the roots are covered, backfill the hole and gently press into place. Do not cover the rhizome, it needs to be exposed above the soil surface.
Water well at planting time. Mist as necessary to keep plants cool and to avoid wilted leaves. Add a 2-inch layer of mulch to help retain moisture and keep soil cool.
Pests and Diseases
Wasabi is sometimes infested with aphids, cabbage worms, and slugs.
The best defense against pests and disease is to maintain the cool temperatures and a regular watering schedule. Remove wilted or diseased foliage, hand-pick off slugs and other large pests off plants. Remove aphids and other pests by blasting off planting with a water hose.
Harvesting
Harvest time is 24-36 months after planting when the rhizome is 4-inches or larger. Leaves, stems, and flowers can be harvested anytime.
