Oriental vegetable seeds

We carry more than 350 varieties of Oriental vegetable seeds that are grouped as below for your easy access and review. Most of these seeds are imported from Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, India and Thailand.Seeds are packaged in paper packets (Small Packet and 1 Oz. Size) or plastic bags (>1/4 Lb. Size). Planting directions are provided and imprinted on the seed packets for your reference

Edible Amaranth

Edible Amaranth grows very well in warm climates. This fast-growing vegetable can be harvested 30 days after sowing, by the cut-and-grow-again method. Seeds are very small and will germinate best at temperature above 65 F under dark conditions. Thin plants during the growth if necessary and thinnings can be eaten. Edible young leaves and stems are cooked like spinach. The amaranth family has many groups of plants found in various regions in the world. The following varieties are the most popular leafy amaranths grown in Asia. Soft texture and tender leaves are excellent for stir-fry and soup.

Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea L. var.alboglabra Bailey)

Figure 2. Chinese kale : young stage, tied in bunches

The area under Chinese kale in 1994 was 81 619 rai and has steadily increased during the last five-year period by 38.9 percent to reach 113 336 rai in 1998. Production areas are widely distributed in all regions of Thailand, with 31 524 rai in the Central region, 21 130 rai in the North, 15 894 rai in the East, 24 505 rai in the Northeast, 26 342 rai in the West and 7 095 rai in the South.
Most cultivars grown in Thailand are open-pollinated types. The hybrid cultivars are both expensive as well as doubtful in their superiority as the Chinese kale has a very short growing season. In general, the cultivars fall into three types:
BROAD LEAF:
it is the old type of Chinese kale. This type includes Fang No.1 (DOA) and Large leaf (Chia Tai) cultivars. They are widely adapted cultivars that can be grown under a wide range of conditions. The plant has a large stem and short internodes. The leaves are broad, round thick and crispy making it popular among consumers.
POINTED LEAF:
this type is represented by the cultivar P.L.20 (DOA). The plant has a large stem, long internodes and smooth pointed leaves. It is heat and disease tolerant and is widely grown at present. Other well-known cultivars are Long Stalk (Chia tai) and Red Arrow (Eastwest). The crop takes 30–55 days from seeding to harvest.
LONG PETIOLE:
this type is grown for its stem and petiole. The cultivars include Maejo No.1 (DOA) and Super 094 (Chia Tai F1). The plant has a large stem and long internodes. The leaves are narrow, pointed, with a thick-long petiole. It is well suited for inter-regional transport and distribution as it has better keeping quality.
Research should focus on optimizing cultural practices, in particular pest control using chemicals or bio-pesticides with less harmful residues. The development of integrated pest management (IPM) techniques against the diamond-back moth should be further pursued as this is the main production constraint faced by farmers.
The National Gene Bank, agricultural universities and seed companies have their own germplasm collections. Selection for narrow leaves and thick stems is a common objective.

by www.dea.go.th

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

The total area under lettuce in 1994 was 20 640 rai and decreased by 23.09 percent in 1998, probably because of land pressure in peri-urban areas as planting areas near the cities are being progressively reduced. The growing area was 15 874 rai in 1998 with a production of 20 186 tons. Since it is a highly perishable product, it is mainly produced near big cities such as Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Samutsakhon and Pathumthani.
The recommended cultivars are :
GRAND RAPIDS:
a loose-leaf cultivar, which is slow bolting, heat tolerant, and resistant to tip burn. The leaf is light green, ruffled and fluted. The crop matures in 40–45 days and is popular in Thai markets.
BLACK-SEEDED:
it is also a loose-leaf type; the plant is large and vigorous; the leaves are light green, highly frilled, crisp, and suitable for decoration or for salads.
BALLADE:
this is a round-headed type which has crisp and highly palatable leaves. The cultivar is quite heat tolerant and suitable for high rainfall areas and is best suited to the tropical monsoon season. The head weight averages 800 gm.
Post-harvest handling needs to be improved. Suitable packing of leaf lettuce may be in opentopped polythene bags which are put in crates or boxes. Cooling or packing with ice keeps it fresh for longer periods.
Future breeding work should focus on the improvement for heat-tolerant cultivars. There are no germplasm collections in Thailand. Local selection is carried out by agricultural universities and little activity is being handled by seed companies

Originated by :Agricultural development

Major vegetables in thailand

Major vegetables in thailand

Kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica Forsskal.)

Kangkong is also known as water convonvulus, water spinach or morning glory. Generally, it is propagated by stem cuttings.

Figure 1. Kangkong: packed in plastic bag, tied in bundle

The total area under kangkong increased from 82 818 rai in 1994 to 117 996 rai in 1998. There are fluctuations in production from year to year. Floating kangkong occupies a total area of 45 633 rai with a production of 47 773 tons, while upland kangkong occupied an area of 72 363 rai with a production of 79 525 tons in 1998. Floating kangkong is mainly grown in Nonthaburi and Bangkok, whereas upland kangkong is widely grown throughout the country and is most common in the East.The recommended cultivars are :PICHIT NO.1:an upland type, with light green stems, long narrow upright leaves, and less stem-suckers: the time period from sowing to first harvest is 55 days.BAI PHAI NO.5:another upland type, with dark green leaves and stems, popularly known as the bamboo-leafed type.Research should focus on cultural practices for the cooler areas and a breeding program which should concentrate on developing varieties with tolerance to low temperature.Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)The total area under lettuce in 1994 was 20 640 rai and decreased by 23.09 percent in 1998, probably because of land pressure in peri-urban areas as planting areas near the cities are being progressively reduced. The growing area was 15 874 rai in 1998 with a production of 20 186 tons. Since it is a highly perishable product, it is mainly produced near big cities such as Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Samutsakhon and Pathumthani.The recommended cultivars are :GRAND RAPIDS:a loose-leaf cultivar, which is slow bolting, heat tolerant, and resistant to tip burn. The leaf is light green, ruffled and fluted. The crop matures in 40–45 days and is popular in Thai markets.BLACK-SEEDED:it is also a loose-leaf type; the plant is large and vigorous; the leaves are light green, highly frilled, crisp, and suitable for decoration or for salads.BALLADE:this is a round-headed type which has crisp and highly palatable leaves. The cultivar is quite heat tolerant and suitable for high rainfall areas and is best suited to the tropical monsoon season. The head weight averages 800 gm.Post-harvest handling needs to be improved. Suitable packing of leaf lettuce may be in opentopped polythene bags which are put in crates or boxes. Cooling or packing with ice keeps it fresh for longer periods.Future breeding work should focus on the improvement for heat-tolerant cultivars. There are no germplasm collections in Thailand. Local selection is carried out by agricultural universities and little activity is being handled by seed companies.

Originated by: Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific