Wasabi Plant

Used in the well-known and delicious Japanese condiment, Wasabi grow on shady riverbanks in the wild, and so your young plant will need a shady spot in your garden or on your balcony. The cloudy, cool UK summers provide the perfect conditions for Wasabi. None the less, position it under a tree or a tall shrub to make sure it is protected on hot, sunny days, and allow plenty of space too as they can grow up to a meter wide and 60cm tall. It is also possible to grow them in a container in a shady spot but do use a pot that is at least 9L in size.

Plant your Wasabi in well-draining soil and water often during dry spells to keep it moist. They are quite greedy and so feed regularly too with a top dressing of compost or a regular plant food.

The leaves will die back in the winter as the plant conserves its energy in rhizomes at the base of the stem – it is these that are used to make Wasabi paste. Cut off the dead leaves and cover the crown with a fleece or layer of straw to protect it from frosts and then patiently wait until next spring when it will bounce back to life.

The stems and leaves are edible, and these are delicious in salads and cooking during the summer months. Given the right conditions, your patience and care will also hopefully be rewarded at the end of the second year with a rhizome or two.

Problem Solving.

A healthy Wasabi plant is fairly resistant to mildew but yellow leaves are a sign that the shade is not sufficient. You can try planting a tall plant on the sunny side or fixing a piece of cloth above the Wasabi.

Wasabi is part of the brassica family, and so are attractive to cabbage white butterflies. If you find any signs of them spray with a soapy water solution, using either horticultural soap or Ecover washing up liquid mixed with water. Our plants are kept at our Sussex nursery in a pesticide-free environment.