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About Chinese Toon: Chinese toon is
a perennial hardwood, which is a member of Meliaceae family. The young leaves and shoots can be used as
a vegetable called
Hsiang Chun Ya (Xiang Chun Ya ) in China
and thus Chinese toon is known as a "tree vegetable" .
The fresh young leaves and shoots contain
84% water, 9.8% protein, Vitamin C, Vitamin A,
Vitamin B1 and B2, and are rich in aromatic substances. They are uniquely aromatic and
therefore excellent for stir fry ( especially with egg ), salad, fry, pickling,
seasoning, etc. This plant is a native of China, and China is the only
country where Chinese toon young leaves and shoots are used as vegetable. Chinese toon
is also used in Chinese traditional medicine. So Chinese toon is
widely planted in China.
Basically, there are two kinds of Chinese toon. One is
called Purple Chinese toon, of which the young leaves and buds
are a purple or dark red color, the skin is gray brown, the
branches stretch out. The young shoots are strongly aromatic, rich in
lipid, less fibrous. Green Chinese toon is another one.
The plant stands up. The skin is green gray. The young shoots are
less aromatic and contain less lipid.
Chinese toon is suitable for sandy but fertile soil.
Tolerant to humidity to some extent. The favorable pH is pH 5.5-pH 8.0.
It is good for areas with annual average temperature between 8 C° and
10 C°. Its tolerance to cold increases with its age.
During last decade, protective cultivation of Chinese toon
(e. g. plastic tunnel, greenhouse) was developed and widely used so
that the fresh Chinese toon vegetable can be supplied in the winter,
especially during Chinese New Year holidays. An increasing portion of Chinese toon
products (pickled, canned, dehydrated, but not fresh ) are exported overseas.
Chinese toon seeds can also be used for sprouting.
Chinese toon sprouts are a nutritional, healthy gourmet
vegetable and are more and more popular in China.
Seed pre-treating and germination:
As the seeds are
somewhat difficult to germinate, it is recommended the seeds be soaked in
warm water (around 25C° )
24 hours. Change the water 4 times during the soaking. Optimum
germination temperature is 25C°.
Direct seeding is possible, however germination
may not good. Seed depth: 0.5 cm. Keep the soil moist by spraying
with water when necessary.
Seed storage:
Chinese toon
seeds must be kept dry and
at low temperature. We recommend to use
the seeds as soon as possible when you get them since the seeds lose
viability rapidly.
