WASABI DARUMA
Product Description:
Wasabi bare root plants are ready to ship now and are available only within the contiguous US. Naturally resilient to transplant stress, we ship wasabi plant starts bare root with the stems and leaves trimmed away so the plants arrive healthy. We have found that the plants travel better when shipped bare root rather than in pots because the leaf stems of wasabi can be broken during shipping or pull the plant over on its side uprooting it. They arrive ready to plant!
-
Key Features:
-
-
-
Key Features:
-
-
Customer Reviews
I followed the instructions to precisely and unfortunately my wasabi shriveled up and died
So sorry to hear that! Please reach out, so we can help troubleshoot or figure out if we need to issue a refund. Contact our customer service (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM Pacific Time) at either 800-626-0866 or info@territorialseed.com
It has not grown new stems and leaves, since I got it in the mail. Kept it out of direct sunlight and right temperature and it has not really grown at all just hang there with one leaf ….
So sorry to hear that! Please reach out, so we can help troubleshoot or figure out if we need to issue a refund. Contact our customer service (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM Pacific Time) at either 800-626-0866 or info@territorialseed.com
After reading the one star reviews I felt compelled to share my experience with growing Wasabi. I purchased my first Wasabi rhizome from another site. I planted it according to the instructions and three months later it was dead, rotted from overwatering I think.
I started buying vegetable supplies from Territorial Seed several years ago and low and behold, they sold Wasabi. I didn't want to, but I couldn't help myself; I bought another Wasabi in February 2023. I received the same small rhizome as everyone else here but I planted it in a new soil I was trying, completely organic. My Wasabi was growing! Several months had past and all of a sudden, worms were eating the leaves. I used an organic, safe pesticide soap to treat the infestation but it continued to die. This was during the summer months when I was using water to keep the plant cool but think I was also overwatering it. I realized this and replanted it in a larger pot with fresh soil and it once again recovered and began to grow. Now, I have it in my small greenhouse and the plant has become very large, about 12" tall and 18" around. it does suffer in the summer heat but have learned to mist it frequently to keep it cool. What I know now? It needs good natural soil, indirect light, cooler temperatures, a slight breeze if you can and I use an organic liquid fertilizer (with ocean organics) twice a month. In about 6 to 8 months it will be my first harvest, I can't wait! Good Luck!
I so was looking forward to being able to grow my own wasabi. When I opened the package I had a bad feeling. Very puny plant, kinda soggy root ball too. I planted it anyway and crossed my fingers. After two weeks I must aver, I thoroughly examined "�er and it was not only merely dead, it was really most sincerely dead. Rotten. Gone. Non-viable. I'm trying to restrain myself from trying again.
So sorry to hear the Wasabi plant didn't make it. I have reached out to our customer service department about getting you a refund!
Wasabia japonica 'Daruma'
Initial Instructions
As home cultivation of wasabi is a relatively recent practice, we recommend growing in containers until you can determine hardiness, shade, and watering requirements and how your own garden and climate suit these. Planting medium should be well-drained with ample organic matter. Work in 10-12 inches of compost to a soil depth of 8-10 inches. A neutral or slightly acidic soil pH of 6-7 is ideal. You may provide a base layer of gravel or sand for drainage. Container size should be 10 inches or larger (at least a 2.5 gallon nursery pot) with enough depth to allow for rhizome development. Rhizomes will typically reach 4-8 inches in two years before harvest but can grow larger. Dig a hole about twice the size of the rhizome you're transplanting, leaving 1/2 inch of the crown exposed above the soil level. Do not bury the crown! Spread out its roots slightly before backfilling the hole and gently pressing into place. Water in well, ensuring that the plant does not sit in its drainage water, which can lead to root rot. Water regularly before the soil dries completely, especially while your roots are just getting established.
Cultivation
Wasabi grows best in full shade with steady temperatures between 50-60°F, though our Daruma strain is more tolerant of heat and light. Temperatures below 43°F slow growth, while 27° F and below can kill the top growth or even the entire plant. Heat damage can occur when air temperatures rise above 82°F, as well as increased pest and disease incidence. If you're outside of frost risk, an ideal spot to set out would be a northern exposure and/or well-shaded spot, perhaps utilizing 75% shade cloth. Irrigate regularly with cool water (45-59°F), misting as needed to keep plants cool and moisten wilted leaves. Mulch can increase moisture retention. Leaves that remain wilted for a week should be removed to deter pests and lower risks of disease. In areas with hard frost, wasabi may thrive indoors; in our zone 7 gardens, container-grown wasabi has overwintered in an unheated greenhouse, as well as acclimating itself to full sun conditions. Stability in growing conditions throughout the seasons provides uniform, high-quality yields. Still, the plants are surprisingly tolerant of variable conditions once established, and will let you know when they're too far out of their comfort zone. Keep the growing medium weed-free and fertilize minimally with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer until you figure out what works for you; it is better to under-fertilize than over-fertilize. Fertilizers or foliar sprays high in sulfur are said to improve the flavor of the rhizome.
Size/Spacing
8-18 inches tall, 12 inches apart.
Pests & Diseases
Subject to pests and diseases of the brassica family; aphids, cabbage and alfalfa looper larva, crane fly larva, and slugs can all damage crops. Biological controls such as beneficial insects, spraying aphids off with a hose, hand removal of slugs, and pruning of wilted or diseased foliage can decrease these pressures. Careful use of insecticidal soaps or appropriate insecticides may be necessary. Your best defense is maintaining the stable, cool temperatures and steady irrigation wasabi prefers; variable conditions can drastically increase the incidence of pests and disease. While some growers report success replanting year-after-year from divisions, it is recommended to limit vegetative propagation to 3 consecutive years to minimize the risk of disease. You could then use fresh planting stock or learn more about attempting propagation from seed.
Soil Type
Well-drained, very rich in organic matter.
Light Requirements
Full to partial shade, full shade preferred.
Hardiness
Hardy to at least 27°F. If your winter lows are below 30°F, greenhouse or container growing is encouraged.
Harvest
You may harvest a 4 inch or larger rhizome and multiple divisions for replanting 18-24 months after planting. Harvest select petioles (leaf stems) and leaves in the meanwhile for a mild wasabi heat used fresh in salads, sautéed, pickled, or as garnishes; overharvest of leaves can lead to slow rhizome development, so use sparingly. Hand dig your rhizome in the fall or spring, when temperatures are cool and moisture is high. You can pull off the plantlets that will have formed around the crown, replanting those into 6 inch pots, then up-potting into full-sized containers (as mentioned above) the following year to expand your wasabi planting.