Tatsoi microgreens are fast-growing Asian brassica microgreens with tender green leaves, pale stems and a mild mustard-like flavour. They are relatively easy to grow indoors and can usually be harvested approximately 8–14 days after sowing.
If you’re wondering how to grow Tatsoi microgreens, the process is straightforward. Tatsoi seeds do not normally need to be soaked before sowing and can be grown in shallow trays using soil, coco coir, seed-raising mix, hemp mats or another suitable microgreen growing medium.
This beginner-friendly guide explains how to grow Tatsoi microgreens at home, including seed rate, germination, covered germination, watering, growing medium, light, temperature and when to harvest.
Tatsoi Microgreens at a Glance
What Are Tatsoi Microgreens?
Tatsoi microgreens are the young seedlings of Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa, a leafy Asian brassica also known as tat choy, spinach mustard or rosette bok choy.
At the microgreen stage, Tatsoi develops slender pale stems and small green cotyledons. The seedlings are harvested while young and tender, usually after the cotyledons have fully opened and before substantial true-leaf development.
Tatsoi belongs to the Brassicaceae family alongside crops such as broccoli, mustard, kale, radish, pak choi and Mizuna.
Scientific research has also examined Tatsoi microgreens and baby greens as distinct growth stages of Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa, with microgreens characterised by developed cotyledons and the early emergence of true leaves.
What Do Tatsoi Microgreens Taste Like?
Tatsoi microgreens have a mild brassica flavour with subtle mustard notes and a fresh, slightly sweet finish.
They are generally less peppery than radish microgreens and less pungent than many mustard varieties, making Tatsoi useful where a gentler brassica flavour is preferred.
The tender green shoots work well in salads, sandwiches, wraps, rice bowls, noodle dishes, soups and Asian-inspired meals.
Why Grow Tatsoi Microgreens?
- Fast-growing microgreen crop
- Usually ready in approximately 8–14 days
- No seed soaking required
- Suitable for beginners
- Mild mustard-like flavour
- Suitable for indoor growing
- Can be grown throughout the year in a controlled environment
- Suitable for soil, coco coir and microgreen growing mats
- Useful as a single crop or in mixed microgreen blends
Are Tatsoi Microgreens Easy to Grow?
Yes. Tatsoi is generally an easy microgreen to grow.
The seeds are small, do not normally require soaking and germinate readily when kept in close contact with a moist growing medium.
Like many brassica microgreens, Tatsoi responds well to consistent moisture, good light and adequate airflow.
The most common problems are usually associated with excessive seed density, overwatering, stagnant air or leaving the seedlings covered for too long.
How to Grow Tatsoi Microgreens in 7 Simple Steps
- Prepare a shallow tray with moist growing medium.
- Sow the Tatsoi seeds evenly across the surface.
- Mist thoroughly and gently press the seed against the medium.
- Cover or stack the tray during early germination.
- Move the seedlings into bright light once established.
- Bottom water as required and maintain good airflow.
- Harvest approximately 8–14 days after sowing.
What You Need to Grow Tatsoi Microgreens
- Tatsoi microgreen seeds
- Shallow growing tray with drainage holes
- Solid bottom watering tray
- Second tray or suitable cover
- Soil, coco coir, seed-raising mix, hemp mat or other suitable growing medium
- Spray mister
- Clean water
- Bright windowsill or LED grow light
- Clean scissors or harvesting knife
Do Tatsoi Microgreen Seeds Need to Be Soaked?
No. Tatsoi seeds do not normally require soaking before sowing.
The seeds are relatively small and absorb moisture readily when placed onto a properly moistened growing medium.
Soaking can make small seeds more difficult to distribute evenly across the tray and generally provides little benefit for Tatsoi microgreen production.
Sow the seeds dry and mist thoroughly after planting.
How Much Tatsoi Seed Should You Use per Tray?
For a standard 10 × 20 inch microgreen tray, approximately 25 grams of Tatsoi seed provides a practical starting sowing rate.
For a 10 × 10 inch tray, use approximately 12–13 grams.
The ideal quantity can vary depending on seed size, germination percentage, tray dimensions and your growing conditions.
Spread the seeds evenly over the tray rather than allowing them to accumulate in dense patches.
A well-distributed crop usually performs better than a heavily overcrowded tray because airflow can move more freely around the developing stems.
Best Growing Medium for Tatsoi Microgreens
Tatsoi can be grown using several different microgreen growing media.
Coco Coir
Coco coir is suitable because it provides good moisture retention while remaining relatively light and easy to level.
Seed-Raising Mix or Fine Potting Mix
A fine-textured seed-raising mix or quality potting mix also works well.
Avoid very coarse media containing large pieces of bark because small Tatsoi seeds establish more evenly on a fine, level surface.
Hemp Growing Mats
Tatsoi can also be grown on hemp microgreen mats or another suitable hydroponic growing medium.
Keep the mat evenly moist during germination but avoid leaving it sitting in excessive water.
Best Temperature for Growing Tatsoi Microgreens
Tatsoi generally grows well at indoor temperatures of approximately 18–24°C.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds recommends a general ambient range of approximately 18–24°C for microgreen production, with excessive warmth potentially increasing disease pressure.
Tatsoi is a cool-season brassica, so it often performs particularly well under mild growing conditions.
Warmer temperatures can accelerate drying and increase humidity-related problems, especially in densely planted trays.
Step 1: Prepare the Growing Tray
Use a clean shallow tray with drainage holes.
If growing in soil, coir or seed-raising mix, add approximately 2–4 cm of growing medium and gently level the surface.
Moisten the medium evenly before planting.
The growing medium should feel damp throughout but should not be waterlogged or contain standing water.
Step 2: Sow the Tatsoi Seeds
Scatter the Tatsoi seeds evenly over the prepared growing medium.
Use approximately 25 g per 10 × 20 inch tray or approximately 12–13 g per 10 × 10 inch tray as a starting rate.
Aim for even coverage without allowing seeds to form thick piles.
Gently press the seed against the growing medium to improve seed-to-medium contact.
Mist thoroughly after sowing.
Step 3: Cover the Tray During Germination
Place another tray or suitable lid over the crop after sowing.
The cover helps retain moisture and creates a dark environment during early germination.
Tatsoi commonly germinates in approximately 3–5 days, although seedlings may begin emerging earlier under favourable conditions.
Check the crop regularly and mist if the growing surface begins to dry.
Keep the medium consistently moist but avoid excessive watering.
Do Tatsoi Microgreens Need Weight?
A second tray can be used to provide light, even pressure during the initial germination period.
Heavy weighting is not necessary for Tatsoi. The aim is simply to maintain good seed contact with the growing surface while the roots establish.
This differs from large-seeded microgreens such as peas and sunflower, where growers may use more substantial stacking pressure.
How Long Should Tatsoi Microgreens Stay Covered?
Approximately 2–3 days of covered germination is a useful starting point.
Rather than relying only on the number of days, watch the crop.
Remove the covering tray when most seeds have germinated and the seedlings are established and beginning to push upward.
Leaving Tatsoi in darkness unnecessarily can produce overly elongated seedlings.
Step 4: Move Tatsoi Microgreens into Light
Once the seedlings are established, remove the cover and move the tray into bright natural light or beneath a suitable LED grow light.
Seedlings grown in darkness may initially appear yellow or pale.
This is normal. The cotyledons should become green after exposure to light.
Provide consistent light so the seedlings develop compact stems and healthy green leaves.
If using a windowsill, rotate the tray periodically to reduce leaning toward the strongest light source.
Step 5: Water the Tatsoi Microgreens
Keep the growing medium consistently moist while the crop develops.
Once the roots are established, bottom watering is generally preferable to repeatedly spraying the foliage.
Add water to the solid tray beneath the growing tray and allow the medium to absorb moisture through the drainage holes.
Check moisture before watering again.
- Keep the root zone moist
- Avoid waterlogged growing media
- Do not leave unnecessary standing water beneath the tray
- Reduce overhead watering as foliage develops
- Maintain airflow around the crop
Step 6: Allow the Cotyledons to Develop
After exposure to light, Tatsoi seedlings will continue to increase in height and the cotyledons will expand.
Maintain consistent light, moisture and airflow during this stage.
A healthy crop should develop upright pale-to-green stems with fresh green seed leaves.
Tatsoi may begin developing its first small true leaves if allowed to grow towards the longer end of the harvest range.
Step 7: When to Harvest Tatsoi Microgreens
Tatsoi microgreens are generally ready approximately 8–14 days after sowing.
Harvest timing varies with temperature, light, moisture, seed density and the size you prefer.
Look for:
- Fully opened green cotyledons
- Healthy upright stems
- Plants approximately 5–8 cm tall
- Good green colour
- Little or early true-leaf development
There is no need to wait for Tatsoi to develop into baby leaf. Microgreens are harvested while the crop is still young and tender.
How to Harvest Tatsoi Microgreens
Use clean scissors or a sharp harvesting knife.
Cut the stems just above the surface of the growing medium.
Avoid cutting soil, coco coir or growing mat material into the harvested crop.
Where possible, harvest when the foliage is dry rather than immediately after watering.
Tatsoi is normally grown as a single-cut microgreen crop. Sow a fresh tray for the next harvest.
How Much Can You Harvest from a Tray?
Yield varies according to tray dimensions, sowing density, germination percentage, light levels, growing medium and harvest stage.
More seed does not necessarily result in more usable microgreens.
Excessively dense trays can produce weaker stems, restricted airflow and prolonged moisture around the base of the crop.
For home growers, producing an evenly established, clean crop is generally more useful than attempting to maximise the weight harvested from each tray.
How to Store Tatsoi Microgreens
Fresh Tatsoi microgreens can be stored in the refrigerator after harvesting.
For best storage:
- Harvest using clean equipment
- Harvest when the foliage is reasonably dry
- Remove any growing-medium debris
- Place the microgreens in a clean container
- Use absorbent paper if necessary to manage excess moisture
- Keep refrigerated
- Use while the stems and leaves remain fresh and crisp
If you wash Tatsoi microgreens before storage, dry them thoroughly before refrigerating.
How to Use Tatsoi Microgreens
Tatsoi’s mild brassica flavour makes it suitable for a wide range of foods.
Try Tatsoi microgreens:
- In salads
- In sandwiches
- In wraps
- In rice bowls
- With noodles
- With eggs
- In sushi and Asian-style bowls
- Added to soups immediately before serving
- Mixed with stronger microgreen varieties
- As a fresh garnish
For the best texture and appearance, add the microgreens towards the end of food preparation rather than cooking them for an extended period.
Tatsoi vs Mizuna Microgreens
Tatsoi and Mizuna are both Asian brassicas and have similar basic microgreen growing requirements, but they differ in appearance and flavour.
Tatsoi Microgreens vs Tatsoi Baby Greens
Tatsoi microgreens and Tatsoi baby greens come from the same plant but are harvested at different stages.
Tips for Growing Tatsoi Microgreens Indoors
- Use clean trays and equipment
- Do not pre-soak the seed
- Spread the seed evenly across the tray
- Keep the medium moist during germination
- Do not leave the crop covered for longer than necessary
- Move the seedlings into suitable light after germination
- Bottom water after the root system is established
- Maintain good airflow
- Harvest while the shoots remain tender
Growing Tatsoi Microgreens in Warm and Humid Weather
Tatsoi is a cool-season brassica, so additional care may be needed when growing it during warm and humid Australian weather.
In warm conditions:
- Maintain good airflow around the trays
- Avoid excessively dense sowing
- Do not leave the growing medium saturated
- Check moisture regularly because warm conditions can also dry trays quickly
- Avoid intense direct afternoon sun through windows
- Use a small fan where indoor air is stagnant
- Consider growing in the coolest suitable part of the house during very hot weather
In humid subtropical climates such as Brisbane, the combination of warm temperatures, dense seedlings and wet growing media can increase mould and disease pressure.
The aim is to keep the roots adequately moist while allowing the stems and foliage to remain reasonably dry and well ventilated.
Common Problems When Growing Tatsoi Microgreens
Mould
Mould is more likely when trays are overcrowded, persistently wet or poorly ventilated.
To reduce the risk:
- Use clean trays and equipment
- Avoid excessive seed density
- Provide adequate drainage
- Maintain airflow
- Avoid saturated growing media
- Do not leave germinated seedlings covered unnecessarily
Discard visibly mouldy or spoiled microgreens rather than eating them.
White Fuzz Around Tatsoi Roots
Fine white hairs surrounding the young roots are often root hairs rather than mould.
Root hairs usually occur evenly along healthy roots and can become much less visible immediately after misting or watering.
Mould tends to spread more irregularly across seeds, stems or the growing medium.
Yellow Tatsoi Seedlings
Tatsoi seedlings may appear yellow when first removed from a dark germination environment.
This is normal.
Once the seedlings are exposed to sufficient light, the cotyledons should begin turning green.
Leggy Tatsoi Microgreens
Weak, excessively tall seedlings generally indicate insufficient light or an overly long covered germination period.
Move the seedlings into good light once germination is established.
Tatsoi Microgreens Are Falling Over
Seedlings may fall over if they become excessively tall, overcrowded or too wet.
Check light levels, sowing density, watering and airflow.
Tatsoi Microgreens Are Wilting
Wilting often means that the root zone has become too dry.
Check the growing medium regularly, particularly under grow lights or during warm weather.
If the medium is already very wet but the crop continues to collapse, inspect the roots and stems for signs of disease or poor drainage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Tatsoi microgreens take to grow?
Tatsoi microgreens are commonly ready to harvest approximately 8–14 days after sowing, depending on temperature, light, growing medium and the harvest stage you prefer.
Do Tatsoi microgreen seeds need soaking?
No. Tatsoi seeds do not normally require pre-soaking before sowing.
How much Tatsoi seed should I use in a 10 × 20 tray?
Approximately 25 grams provides a useful starting rate for a standard 10 × 20 inch microgreen tray.
How much Tatsoi seed should I use in a 10 × 10 tray?
Approximately 12–13 grams provides a practical starting rate for a 10 × 10 inch tray.
How long should Tatsoi microgreens remain covered?
Approximately 2–3 days is a useful starting period. Remove the cover once the seedlings are established and beginning to push upward.
Do Tatsoi microgreens need weight?
A covering tray can provide light pressure during initial germination, but heavy weighting is unnecessary.
Can Tatsoi microgreens be grown indoors?
Yes. Tatsoi grows well indoors provided it receives suitable light, consistent moisture and adequate ventilation.
Can Tatsoi microgreens be grown without soil?
Yes. Tatsoi can be grown on coco coir, hemp mats and other suitable hydroponic or soilless microgreen growing media.
What temperature is best for Tatsoi microgreens?
Around 18–24°C is a practical indoor growing range.
When should I harvest Tatsoi microgreens?
Harvest when the cotyledons are fully open, the crop is approximately 5–8 cm tall and the stems remain tender. This commonly occurs around 8–14 days after sowing.
Do Tatsoi microgreens regrow after harvesting?
Tatsoi is normally treated as a single-cut microgreen crop. Sow a fresh tray for subsequent harvests.
What do Tatsoi microgreens taste like?
Tatsoi microgreens have a mild brassica flavour with gentle mustard notes and a fresh, slightly sweet finish.
Are Tatsoi and bok choy the same?
No. They are closely related Asian brassicas, but Tatsoi and bok choy are distinct types of Brassica rapa. Tatsoi is traditionally associated with a compact, low-growing rosette at maturity.
Learning how to grow Tatsoi microgreens is straightforward, making this Asian brassica a useful choice for beginner and experienced microgreen growers.
Tatsoi seeds do not normally require soaking, germinate quickly and can usually be harvested approximately 8–14 days after sowing. Sow the seeds evenly, maintain consistent moisture during germination, introduce the seedlings to good light once established and maintain airflow throughout the crop.
With a clean tray, suitable growing medium and careful watering, Tatsoi can produce tender green microgreens with a mild mustard-like flavour in around two weeks or less.
Ready to grow your own? Shop Tatsoi Microgreen Seeds from Seedmart Australia.