EDIBLE CHRYSANTHEMUM
Other Common Names Include:
Antimonio, Chop Suey Greens, Crown and Daisy Chrysanthemum, Edible Garland, Japanese Green, Kikuna, Mirabeles, Moya, Shungiku, Tangho and Tong Hao
Latin Name: Chrysanthemum coronarium
Plant Family: Asteraceae
Close Relatives: Garden chrysanthemum, daisies, Echinacea, globe artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke, sunflowers
Uses and Markets: Culinary (e.g. young, tender leaves used as a cooked vegetable or in soups and stews); Primarily used in east Asian cuisines; Ornamental
Production Life Cycle in Ontario
Annual
Hardiness Zone
N/A
Special Notes
Propagation method
Direct seeding (later crops) or transplants from seeds (early spring crops).
Greenhouse Seeding/Propagation Dates
February to March.
Field Seeding Date:
May to early September.
Field Transplanting Dates
April to May.
In-row spacing
15 cm
Between row spacing
30-45 cm
Optimal Soil temperature at planting
>15°C
Fertility
No current Ontario fertility recommendations exist. Research and recommendations from outside Ontario do not necessarily apply to Ontario growing conditions. Research from Korea showed an optimum nitrogen application rate of 100 kg/ha. Click here for phosphorus and potassium application guidelines and for more information on specialty crop fertility.
Soil type
Well-drained soil; all soil types.
Soil pH
5.2-7.5
Special requirements for growth habit
None
Optimal Temperature Range
Prefers cool temperatures in spring and fall; hot temperatures can cause bitter leaves.
Temperature sensitivity
Frost tolerant (light frosts only).
Irrigation requirements
Irrigation beneficial under normal Ontario conditions.
Days to harvest
35-50 days
Specialized equipment
None
Harvest
Harvest Scheduling
Multiple harvests from the same planting (leaf harvest) or single harvest (whole crown harvest); Successive plantings; Multi-cropping possible.
Hand harvest or machine harvest
Hand harvest
Quality parameters/grades
No established grades. Quality is determined by the market.
Additional Harvest Notes
Harvest leaves before plant begins to flower. Remove flower buds to promote new leaf growth. Older plants result in poor leaf quality. Harvest during cooler parts of the day to reduce moisture loss and cooling costs. Remove field heat as soon as possible after harvest.
Post harvest
Special handling/curing
None
Storage Conditions
Relative humidity (RH): >95%
Temperature: 0°C
Air Exchange: N/A
Duration: 2-3 weeks
Specific pests observed on this crop in Ontario (observations based on limited experience with this crop)
Insects and Invertebrates: Japanese beetles
Diseases:
Other:
Other Potential Pests: The following pests have not been observed on this crop in Ontario. However, they are either significant concerns for closely related plants in Ontario, or are reported on this crop in other production areas. This is not a comprehensive list of all potential pests. Not all of these pests will necessarily survive Ontario’s climate, but could potentially survive in a protected environment (e.g. greenhouse, storage facility).
Insects and Invertebrates: Whitefly, Aphids, Mites and Leafminers
Diseases: Powdery Mildew
*Indicates pests commonly mentioned as causing significant damage or economic loss to this crop in other regions.
Comments
To date the following pests have been the most significant in Ontario: none. This crop is in Crop Group 4: Leafy Vegetables (Except Brassica Vegetables) Group and subgroup 4A: Leafy Greens Subgroup. For more information on Crop Groups, refer to the Pest section. Always refer to product labels, and follow all directions specified on the label, before applying any pest control product. For more information, consult an OMAFRA specialist.
None
- Elford, E., Filotas, M., Todd, J., and S. Westerveld. 2009. Non-traditional crops demonstration garden. OMAFRA Simcoe Resource Centre, unpublished.
- Munro, D. B., and E. Small. 1997. Vegetables of Canada. NRC Research Press, Ottawa.
- Yang, S.B., K.W. Park and M.H. Chiang. 1989. The effects of fertilizer application, spacing and sowing date on the growth and quality of Chrysanthemum coronarium L. Abstracts of Communicated Papers [Horticulture Abstracts], Korean Society for Horticultural Science 7:72-73.
