Komatsuna, also known as Japanese mustard spinach, is a member of the Brassicaceae family, along with broccoli, bok choy, cauliflower, kale, tatsoi, etc. It is not related to spinacia oleracea or spinach, contrary to what it is called.
When growing komatsuna on aeroponic towers, we begin by soaking the agricultural rockwool in water for about 20 minutes until it is fully wet. Rockwool is a soilless substrate made from basalt, the most common volcanic rock on Earth. It is often used in aeroponics and hydroponics as it allows for soilless germination. The rockwool comes with the tower when you purchase it.
Once the rockwool is completely soaked, we put three seeds into each hole of the tray. Each tray has 98 holes. Add vermiculite on top of each hole after the seeds have been placed. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that is ideal for the germination process. It retains a large amount of water while maintaining the perfect water to air ratio.
When germinating outdoors, the seedlings should be watered twice a day. After about two weeks, everything will start to germinate. The seedlings will then be ready for transplantation to the aeroponic towers using a grow clip to secure them in place.
It takes around six weeks of growth until the komatsuna reaches full maturity and becomes ready for harvest from the aeroponic towers.
Komatsuna is versatile, it can be enjoyed in various ways such as raw in salads, cooked as a side dish, or steamed to retain their vibrant color and nutrients—just like you would with other leafy greens.
Check out the video featured below to see how we grow komatsuna on aeroponic towers using the Tower Garden aeroponic technology without the use of soil, only water mixed with a 100% natural ionic mineral nutrient solution:
For more information about our aeroponic tower technology, we advise you to get a copy of the following e-books:
1. Getting the most out of your aeroponic tower
– The essential information and advice in this e-book will help you improve and maximize your crop yield.
2. Vertical Farming with Aeroponics
– All the comprehensive knowledge needed to operate a Tower Farm successfully is included in this e-book.
