Comments on: Kyoto Vegetable Garden: Kyoto Cucumber Nukazuke

By: Spicy Cookbook: Scent of the Mansoon Winds | Kyoto Foodie: Where and what to eat in Kyoto

Sat, 08 May 2010 15:50:46 +0000

[...] do love spicy food though. I grow my own habanero and jalapeno chili peppers in my little Kyoto garden, smoke them in my little Kyoto kitchen and have developed a layu-type spiced oil recipe made from [...]

By: Myrtie Yarish

Myrtie Yarish — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:54:46 +0000

We really enjoy reading your posts, i just used this website SwapmySeeds.com, as a way of giving away my unused seeds. Anyone know what I can sell them for? I have maybe 100 geranium seeds left.

By: Banda

Banda — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:54:46 +0000

First of all thank you so much for this amazing blog! It has been a great inspiration while planning my trip to Kyoto this august and a very welcome diversion while writing a PhD thesis in midsummer Germany. I really appreciate the lovely presentation and honest, well-researched, down-to-earth approach of your blog!

Regarding Kyoyasai: Is there a good shop in Kyoto you could recommend to buy seeds of typical Kyoto-style vegetables or old fashioned japanese breeds in general (because it doesn´t really make sense for me to shop at Kitazawa)?

By: Funazushi

Funazushi — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:21:33 +0000

The mibuna and mizuna are growing well and we have been able to eat some already. The Hinona are also growing well but have a ways to go to get to full size. The nasu are growing very slowly so I don’t know if we will have any this year.

Our nukadoko is up and running and I have put my first batch of cucumbers in today. Looking at your picture of the ice cold beer I know how we’re going to eat them when they are ready.

By: olivia

olivia — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:45:32 +0000

yay! I grew some myself last year – and again this year… not very hard to grow, and the freshness is awesome!

By: Peko Peko

Peko Peko — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:52:32 +0000

Hello Funazushi, I see. I saw that Kitazawa Seed Co. has a good selection of traditional Japanese veggie seeds. Tell us how your garden comes along. Mine is still being eated by dango mushi — they only eat the sprouts of the greens. They don’t seem to be able to do much damage to squash, cucumber and eggplant.

Hello Trisha, Your (current) favorite site?!?! Well, thank you! One day is not nearly enough! You have to get back here, until you do, you can catch some glimpses of Kyoto here at KyotoFoodie and at OpenKyoto.

Hello Martin, Most any rice store that mills rice ought to have nuka. Many liquor stores also sell rice, they often have nuka. Nuka is usually free. Did you see our article on How to Make Nukazuke: Nukadoko Pickling Bed?

By: Martin F

Martin F — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:50:29 +0000

Wow, that looks so yummy. Where do you get the nuka from?

By: Trisha

Trisha — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:30:02 +0000

You are now my current favourite website. I fell inlove with Japan when I visited last year – and my favourite city was Kyoto! 1 day wasn’t enough to visit Kyoto (only managed to go to 3 temples/shrines/castles!) so definitely returning there soon! Oh and the food? Best best best in the world!

By: Funazushi

Funazushi — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:48:16 +0000

Hello Peko Peko, yes I live in Toronto, Canada now, so we have different pests to contend with. My wife was born in Kyoto but raised in Shiga so she put her requests in for some shiga specialities. Our summers have been cooler lately so I’m hoping they will grow well. For anyone interested, I ordered seeds from Kitazawa seed company in California.
Actually, my wife’s aunt has a farm in Katsura, where she grows kyoyasi for some of the ryotei restaurants in Kyoto. I should try to consult with her next time we visit.

By: Peko Peko

Peko Peko — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:01:07 +0000

Hello Anita, Ah, one of the (many) downsides of Tokyo, no garden space! You have to escape Tokyo!

Hello Funazushi, You are going full on! If you have squirrels, you must not be in Japan. Where are you growing all this Kyoyasai abroad? We have about the same line-up of veggies, but no hinona — which I think is actually a Shiga traditional veggie. Isn’t hinona and kabu better to plant in the colder season?

By: Funazushi

Funazushi — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:06:06 +0000

We are planting a garden of Kyoto vegetables as well, although you are way ahead of us climate wise. We have planted: mizuna, mibuna, kyo nasu, hinona, kabu, and aka and aoi shiso. I think the squirrels ate the cucumber seeds so we will have to try again. There is certainly nothing like eating your homegrown fresh vegetables.

By: Anita

Anita — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:32:44 +0000

I miss my garden! Here in Tokyo we have no room at all for garden boxes even! So you must keep us updated…enjoying the blog!