Hybrid

Chinese Cabbage, Tokyo Bekana

Brassica rapa var. chinensis

Wikimedia Commons

One of our fastest-growing microgreens! Pale green color blends well and beautifully complements dark green and dark red varieties in mixes. Mild and earthy brassica flavor. Based on our yield trial, we recommend seeding 14 gm per tray at approx. 2 flats per oz of seed. Avg. days to maturity was 10 days when harvested at the first true leaf (as opposed to cotyledon) stage.

Harvest

10-15d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to part shade

☀️

Zones

5–9

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Harvest

Start Indoors

Harvest

Showing dates for Chinese Cabbage, Tokyo Bekana in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 microgreen →

Zone Map

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Chinese Cabbage, Tokyo Bekana · Zones 5–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

SoilMicrogreen substrate or growing medium (soil not required for hydroponic systems)

WaterHigh — consistent moisture needed

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorMild and earthy brassica flavor with subtle notes.

ColorPale green

Size14 g

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 4	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 5	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 6	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 7	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 8	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 9	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 10	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 1	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 2	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 11	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 12	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 13	January – December	—	—	January – December

Succession Planting

Tokyo Bekana microgreens go from seed to harvest in 10–15 days, which is fast enough that a simple stagger keeps you in continuous supply. Start a new tray every 5–7 days — or whenever the previous tray hits the blackout-to-light transition — and you'll be pulling cuts roughly twice a week without any gap. There's no heat threshold to outrun the way there is with outdoor brassicas; as long as your grow space holds between 65°F and 80°F, the same cadence runs year-round.

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Chinese Cabbage, Tokyo Bekana reaches harvest at 10 - 15 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 14 g at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

The fruits dry and split when ripe.

Color: Brown/Copper, Green. Type: Siliqua. Length: > 3 inches.

Garden value: Edible

Harvest time: Fall, Summer

Bloom time: Spring, Summer

Edibility: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.

Storage & Preservation

Harvest Tokyo Bekana microgreens in the morning when soil moisture is optimal, then refrigerate immediately in a sealed container or perforated plastic bag at 35–40°F with 90–95% relative humidity. Fresh microgreens will keep for 5–7 days, though quality and nutrient density decline after day 3. For longer preservation, freeze whole or chopped microgreens in airtight freezer bags for up to three months; thaw gently before adding to cooked dishes. Blanching briefly before freezing helps retain color. Drying is less recommended due to the delicate leaf structure, but you can air-dry on screens in a cool, dark space for tea blends. Light fermentation in brine for 2–3 days develops pleasant umami notes and extends storage to two weeks refrigerated. Tokyo Bekana's tender leaves bruise easily, so handle with care during harvest and storage to minimize oxidative damage and maintain their mild, sweet cabbage flavor.

History & Origin

Chinese Cabbage, Tokyo Bekana is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Brassica is a genus of plants in the cabbage and mustard family (Brassicaceae). The members of the genus are informally known as cruciferous vegetables, cabbages, mustard plants, or simply brassicas. Crops from this genus are sometimes called cole crops—derived from the Latin caulis, denoting the stem or stalk of a plant.

Advantages

+Exceptionally fast maturity at just 10 days makes Tokyo Bekana highly profitable.
+Pale green color naturally complements both dark greens and reds in mixes.
+Easy difficulty level requires minimal experience or specialized growing skills.
+Mild, earthy brassica flavor appeals to broad culinary applications and palates.
+Efficient seed usage at 14 gm per tray maximizes production economics.

Considerations

-Brassica family susceptibility to fungal diseases requires careful humidity management.
-Pale coloring may appear less visually striking than darker microgreen varieties.
-Fast growth window leaves minimal margin for error in harvest timing.

Companion Plants

Tokyo Bekana microgreens live in trays, not beds, so companion planting here is really about what shares your grow rack or enclosed space. Lettuce, spinach, arugula, and radish microgreens are natural tray-mates — same light duration, same watering frequency, same humidity target, so you're not constantly pulling conditions in opposite directions. Avoid running tomato seedlings or strawberry runners in the same enclosed setup; both want drier air, and the 70–80% humidity you're holding for the brassica will invite Botrytis cinerea on those crops. Potted chives or cilantro nearby can cut down on fungus gnat pressure — the more practical payoff in any indoor tray setup.

Plant Together

Lettuce

Similar growing conditions and harvest timing, efficient space utilization

Radish

Quick-growing companion that helps break soil and deters flea beetles

Spinach

Compatible growth rates and similar light requirements for microgreens

Chives

Natural pest deterrent, repels aphids and cabbage worms

Dill

Attracts beneficial insects and may improve flavor of brassicas

Nasturtiums

Acts as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles that attack brassicas

Cilantro

Similar growing conditions and helps repel aphids

Arugula

Fellow brassica with compatible growing requirements

Keep Apart

Strawberries

May stunt growth of brassicas through root competition and chemical interactions

Tomatoes

Different watering needs and may inhibit brassica growth

Fennel

Allelopathic effects inhibit growth of most brassicas including Chinese cabbage

Nutrition Facts

Calories

25kcal(1%)

Protein

1.28g(3%)

Fiber

2.5g(9%)

Carbs

5.8g(2%)

Fat

0.1g(0%)

Vitamin C

36.6mg(41%)

Vitamin A

5mcg(1%)

Vitamin K

76mcg(63%)

Iron

0.47mg(3%)

Calcium

40mg(3%)

Potassium

170mg(4%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169975)

Troubleshooting Chinese Cabbage, Tokyo Bekana

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Stems are leggy and pale, flopping over by day 7–8

Likely Causes

Insufficient light — less than 12 hours of bright light per day
Tray placed too far from a grow light (more than 3–4 inches away)

What to Do

1.Move the tray to within 2–3 inches of a T5 fluorescent or LED grow light
2.Increase the light period to 14–16 hours using a timer
3.If growing in a window, rotate the tray 180° daily to even out light exposure

White or gray fuzzy growth at the base of stems, near the soil line, around day 5–10

Likely Causes

Damping-off caused by Pythium spp. or Rhizoctonia solani — both thrive when trays stay waterlogged
Overwatering or poor drainage in the growing medium

What to Do

1.Bottom-water only: pour water into a drip tray and let the medium wick it up, then drain after 20 minutes
2.Improve airflow by running a small fan near the trays for a few hours a day
3.Toss the affected tray — damping-off spreads fast — and sanitize with a 1:10 bleach solution before reseeding

Cotyledons showing small dark pinhole damage or ragged edges before harvest

Likely Causes

Fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.) — larvae chew roots and lower stems; adults spread through open growing media
Growing medium left consistently wet on the surface, which draws egg-laying adults in

What to Do

1.Let the top 1/2 inch of the growing medium dry out between waterings to break the egg-laying cycle
2.Place yellow sticky traps directly above the trays to catch adults
3.Cover trays with a fine-mesh screen or a vented humidity dome to block adults during germination

Uneven germination — some seeds sprouted by day 4, others still bare on day 8

Likely Causes

Inconsistent seed-to-medium contact from uneven spreading or insufficient pressing
Tray temperature dropping below 65°F at night, slowing germination in cooler spots

What to Do

1.Press seeds firmly and evenly into the growing medium with a flat board or the bottom of a second tray before covering
2.Use a seedling heat mat to hold the medium at 70–75°F through germination
3.Check that your blackout cover isn't sitting directly on the seeds and creating cold pockets — leave a small air gap

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Tokyo Bekana microgreen take to harvest?▼

Tokyo Bekana is one of the fastest-growing microgreens, reaching maturity in just 10-15 days. Most growers harvest at around 10 days when the first true leaves appear, rather than waiting for the cotyledon stage. This rapid growth makes it excellent for quick turnarounds and frequent harvests.

Is Chinese Cabbage Tokyo Bekana good for beginners?▼

Absolutely! Tokyo Bekana is rated as an easy microgreen to grow, making it perfect for beginners. It's forgiving, grows quickly, and doesn't require special conditions. With basic care and proper moisture management, even new microgreen growers can achieve consistent, healthy yields.

What does Tokyo Bekana microgreen taste like?▼

Tokyo Bekana has a mild and earthy brassica flavor profile that's subtle and approachable. It's less peppery than some other brassica microgreens, making it versatile for various culinary applications. The pale green color and mild taste work beautifully in salad mixes and garnishes.

Can I grow Tokyo Bekana microgreens in containers or trays?▼

Yes, Tokyo Bekana is specifically bred for microgreen tray cultivation. Based on yield trials, the recommendation is to seed approximately 14 grams per tray at roughly 2 flats per ounce of seed. This spacing ensures optimal growth and harvest density for commercial or home microgreen production.

How does Tokyo Bekana mix with other microgreens?▼

Tokyo Bekana's pale green color beautifully complements both dark green and dark red microgreen varieties in mixes. Its mild, earthy flavor doesn't overpower other microgreens, making it an excellent base or supporting ingredient in microgreen blends and salad mixes.

What light conditions does Tokyo Bekana microgreen need?▼

Tokyo Bekana thrives in full sun to part shade conditions. It's adaptable to various light levels, which makes it practical for different growing setups. Ensure consistent moisture and indirect light in the early growth stages, then increase light exposure as the microgreens develop.