ACCE$$ TO A$IA ASIAN VEGETABLES NEWSLETTER Issue No. 11, February 1997 (English Edition)

In this issue, we will present our research plans for this coming season and other news items.

RESEARCH NEWS

MYRTLEFORD ( Stephen Moore, Tel. 057 311 222 )
Field trials have identified several Asian vegetables suitable for growing in north-east Victoria. They are Chinese broccoli, Chinese cabbage, garland chrysanthemum, mustard green (mike giant and red giant), Chinese chard, snowpeas, mibuna, mizuna and rosette Chinese chard (tatsoi). Vegetables which are currently being trialed include chilli, snake beans, bitter melon, water convolvulus, bicolour corn and Japanese pumpkin. These vegetables were transplanted during spring and early summer of 1996.

TATURA ( Murat Top, Tel. 058 335 222 )
Japanese pumpkin has been the main crop trialed in the northern region for the past two years. More than 30 cultivars have been trialed so far. Two growers have started to grow Japanese pumpkin commercially this year. At present, field trials of Japanese pumpkin cultivars as either replicated or demonstration plots can be seen at Tatura, Nathalia, Swan Hill and Myrtleford. They should be ready for harvest at the end of March to early April. Any company interested in processing or selling Japanese pumpkin, please contact Murat Top in Tatura at the above number.
Other Asian vegetables which are also being trialed in Tatura are Chinese cabbage, garland chrysanthemum, Shanghai Chinese chard, rosette Chinese chard, mustard spinach (komatsuna), Chinese broccoli and perilla.

BAIRNSDALE ( Nick Barton, Tel. 051 520 600 )
The 1996 Chinese cabbage trials were undertaken at Myrtleford and Lindenow. At Myrtleford speedlings of six of seven varieties transplanted in October 1995 hearted well - only Green Rocket bolted. However all eleven varieties planted in April 1996 bolted.
Lindenow trials were planted in the field in March, April and May. March planted seedlings of Yuki, Manoko, Cream and Chiko hearted successfully , as did direct sown Yuki under row covers. A few direct sown Green rocket hearted, but most bolted.
The April trial at Lindenow incorporated fertiliser and row cover trials as well as variety trials. Best results were obtained with Manoko, followed by Cream. These were harvested in late July. Adequate fertiliser was essential.
None of the conventionally raised seedlings from the May planting at Lindenow were commercially acceptable. A proportion of "June Bride" grown in a heated glasshouse, then kept under row covers did heart successfully in August.
Although the 1996 trials succeeded in finding wong bok type (barrel shaped) varieties which were successfully harvested late in July, there is a need for still later varieties, and for a rocket type (cylindrical shaped) which can be harvested in winter.
1997 trials will be undertaken at Lindenow, Myrtleford, Swan Hill and Geelong. Trial design in each location will be standardised, with plantings in February, March, April and May. Myrtleford will also investigate methods of preventing cold conditioning to try to prevent bolting in late sown Chinese cabbage.

Demand for imported Chinese cabbage in the major markets Hong Kong and Taiwan is highest between May and September. Hong Kong is happy to accept both wong bok and rocket type cabbages but Taiwan has a strong preference for rockets. Most of the market is supplied by domestic production or increasingly from China, but crop losses during the monsoon season are common. Shipments arriving at a time when supplies are scarce can realise very lucrative prices but if supplies are plentiful returns may not cover costs. As it takes upward of three weeks for a ship to make the journey, a successful strategy requires that a succession of consignments be sent in the expectation that some will make good returns. Demand in 1996 did not pick up until the end of our harvesting season (mid or late July), by which time the market was desperate for more.

MELBOURNE ( Mandy Chew, Tel. 03 9210 9222 )
Early January marked the end of the first Chinese broccoli cultivar trial conducted in Clyde. A second and third trial has been set to start in mid-March.

NEWS ITEMS

• ASIAN VEGETABLES GETS SERIOUS IN MELBOURNE

At present Oriental Merchants is interested in sourcing Asian vegetables for their outlets. These include Chinese broccoli, Chinese cabbage, Chinese chard, Shanghai Chinese chard, Baby Chinese chard, Chinese chives, Flowering Chinese chives, Chinese flowering cabbage, Chinese spinach, garland chrysanthemum, water convolvulus, watercress, mustard green, Vietnamese lettuce, Taro shoots, snowpea shoots, pennywort, Chinese celery, hot mint, perilla, green radish, white radish, snake beans, pumpkin leaves, Vietnamese mint, bitter melon, hairy melon, and winter melon. See last issue for the botanical names of these Asian vegetables. Please contact Peter Lew 0412 207 552 if interested in supplying these Asian vegetables.

• CHINESE WATER CHESTNUT

There is potential for fresh Chinese water chestnut in Victoria's supermarkets. A seperate project headed by Greg Cahill on Chinese water chestnut is underway. If you are a water chestnut grower or interested in growing water chestnuts and would like to participate or learn more about the project, please contact Greg Cahill 054 304 444 at the Bendigo Agriculture Centre.

• MAGNUS KAHL SEEDS

Rod Ocklerby ( 018 524 545) is interested in talking to Asian vegetables growers and finding out what type of seeds they would be interested in trialing. Please contact him directly if interested.

• ACCE$$ TO A$IA - RETAIL MARKET REPORT

The report is based on a six-month retail market survey of Asian vegetables. It includes the availbility, retail prices and the common names in different languages known for the Asian vegetables. It is available at $40.00 a copy. If interested, contact Mandy Chew (03) 9210 9222.

• ACCE$$ TO A$IA - ASIAN VEGETABLES NEWSLETTER

This newsletter is also available in Vietnamese and Mandarin. Should you like your copy sent in either of the languages, please contact Mandy Chew (03) 9210 9222.
An updated list of Asian vegetables (Vietnamese and Cantonese names included in most of them) identified in the Melbourne retail outlets is available. If you are interested in getting the list, please send a self-addressed envelope to Mandy Chew, Private Mail Bag 15, Ferntree Gully Delivery Centre, 621 Burwood Highway, Knoxfield, Victoria 3156, AUSTRALIA

In the next newsletter we will continue to present information on an Asian vegetable for supermarket requirements as in previous issues.