Korean Aster – Doellingeria scabra – Chwinamul pack of 100 seeds

Description

Doellingeria scabra (Aster scaber) also known as chwinamul or chamchwi. A useful perennial vegetable which is edible and ornamental and ideal for a polyculture space or forest garden. This aster relative is a well loved vegetable in Korea, but not widely grown in other regions. As a hardy herbaceous perennial it is low maintenance and requires minimal or no watering. Typically, the leaves should be harvested in spring when young and larger leaves later in the season can be dried for later use. Simply re-hydrate the greens and sauté with a little oil and season with soy sauce or maybe a little red pepper. The fresh greens may be used raw or cooked. It flowers profusely throughout summer and into autumn with very attractive white daisy like flowers on long stems. A popular way to consume the leaves raw is as little wraps stuffed with rice, meat and pickled veggies with spicy sauces. It is also used as one of the toppings for Sanchae Bibimbap (bibimbap with mountain vegetables). Seeds can be sown between March and June, surface sow and cover with a minimal amount of compost and leave somewhere warm to germinate. Prick out seedlings, pot them on and then transplant outside when large enough. A sunny position is best, plant about 50cm apart, height 1m when flowering. Plants are dormant in winter and can be easily divided at that time of year.