Japanese Long Onion (Naga Negi)

I spent 11 years in Japan and fell in love with naga negi.  I've found a seed packet for them at my local Asian market.  Unfortunately, it's in Japanese, and even after 11 years, I never picked up on reading the language much.  

Has anyone ever grown these?  I've started them in little Jiffy pots.  They're about 3 inches tall.  When they reach about 6 inches, I plan to dig a trench in one of my beds and plant them in the trench.  Then as they grow, cover with more MM so I get a long white part.  Hope this is right.  Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

I tried to just direct seed them a couple years ago when I first built my boxes.  Didn't have much luck. 

Thanks

Hi Denese
Are you able to post a good picture of the directions??  My son lives in Japan and is fluent in  written, business level, and conversational Japanese.  I could simply email it to him and he could translate for you.  If you are not in a rush to plant.  It could take a couple days to get an answer from him as you are well aware of the salarymans common 14 hour + workday over there....

Thanks Llama Momma.  That would be fantastic!  I'm perfectly willing to wait, as they're only 3 inches tall, at the moment.
And yes, I'm very aware of the long hours.  Poor guy.

Loved my 3 yrs in Japan.  

Kay

Kay, You certainly are a world traveler!

Wish I still was traveling on the Govt's nickle.    I like being retired but sure miss my traveling shoes.

Kay

Loved Japan. DH was in the US Navy. Enjoyed the travel, but was finally happy when  I could live in one house longer than 3 years. 

Just realized this post is in the canning and preserving section.  Not sure how that happened.  Can one of the moderators move it to where it belongs.

Sorry,

Hmm, that is a cool-looking vegetable. Do you just happen to like the white part of green onions especially much, or is there something else special or different about this kind of onion?

Marc, it's much milder than a scallion and I think it's sweeter.  When grilled on a shish ka bob with teriyaki sauce, it is absolutely to die for!  The green is also edible, of course.  I use it in soups and stir fries.

Milder and sweeter, eh? Certainly kinda cool looking. Thanks for the info, Denese.

I got curious and found an article on growing this onion which may be helpful while you're waiting for the official translation.

Wow, had no idea they were so big. They're pretty substantial.

Denese wrote:Just realized this post is in the canning and preserving section.  Not sure how that happened.  Can one of the moderators move it to where it belongs.

Sorry,

Done. Nice catch.

Denese,

Check your P.M.  for my son's email.

mollyhespra wrote:I got curious and found an article on growing this onion which may be helpful while you're waiting for the official translation.

Thank you so much, mollyhespra!    I have searched and searched for info on growing them and never came across this article.  Along with the info from llama momma's son, I think I have the info I need to grow them correctly this year!  I'm so excited!!

Marc Iverson wrote:Wow, had no idea they were so big.  They're pretty substantial.

Yes, Marc.  I've seen them as long as 3 ft.!  

sanderson wrote:

Denese wrote:Just realized this post is in the canning and preserving section.  Not sure how that happened.  Can one of the moderators move it to where it belongs.

Sorry,

Done.  Nice catch.

Thank you, Sanderson!  

llama momma wrote:Denese,

Check your P.M.  for my son's email.

Thank you, llama momma!  Between the info from your son and the info that mollyhespra found, I think I'm set to have a terrific crop of naga negi this year!!    


Thank you all, so much!!  If they grow well, I'll post pics of my crop!

Great Denese!

I just received another email from my son Chris.  This time I'll just post his response below instead of a pm.  I hope you can gather enough sources for a lovely harvest. 
Please feel free to ask away   .

..."  I am happy to help out in any way I can. I am not sure if the information in
the picture she had posted would be enough to answer her questions, but I also have access to different sources of information here and could try to look into the answer..."

Llama Momma, thank you so much for your help.  Please pass along my appreciation to Chris.  If I do need any more info, I'll let you know, but I do believe I have all I need at this time.

Where in Japan is Chris?  We lived in the Yokohama/Yokosuka area near the Yokosuka US Naval Base.  I absolutely loved our time there and miss so many things about it.  If ever given the opportunity to go back for a visit, I would jump at the chance!  Until then, I get by cooking and eating our favorite dishes.  Also, we try to go out and have sushi every couple of months.  That's one thing that's just not the same when I make it.   

Thanks again!

When were you there?  I was there 1995-1998.  Lived just over the cemetary hill from Kamakura almost in sight of the Yoko-Yoko but can't remember the name of the town. My son was stationed at Yokosuka.   Something Minami.

Kay

We were there '74 to '77, '80 to '85, and '88 to '91.  DH retired in '92. '74 to '77 we lived in a Japanese house in Ishiki Hayama, then Yokohama Base Housing, and then Yokosuka Base High Rises.  '80 to '85 we lived in 2 different houses in Negishi Base Housing.  '88 to '91 we lived near the beach in Akiya Hayama in an old Buddhist temple that had been converted to a house for over half the time before we moved on base to the Yokosuka Base townhouses.  My kids played in the graveyard around the temple.    We had a Japanese friend who, when she came to visit us, wouldn't stay past dark.  She was afraid of ghosts.  The biggest issue we had was when people would come to the door in the middle of the night looking for the priest because a loved one had passed.  The new temple was just up the hill, but many were not aware it had moved.  They were actually rather shocked and confused when a "gaijin" (foreigner) answered the door.  

Denese wrote:Llama Momma, thank you so much for your help.  Please pass along my appreciation to Chris.  If I do need any more info, I'll let you know, but I do believe I have all I need at this time.

Where in Japan is Chris?  We lived in the Yokohama/Yokosuka area near the Yokosuka US Naval Base.  I absolutely loved our time there and miss so many things about it.  If ever given the opportunity to go back for a visit, I would jump at the chance!  Until then, I get by cooking and eating our favorite dishes.  Also, we try to go out and have sushi every couple of months.  That's one thing that's just not the same when I make it.   

Thanks again!

Oh you are very welcome and I'll pass along your appreciation to Chris.  Glad you have the info you need for now.

Chris commutes daily from Ichikawa, Chiba into the heart of Tokyo.  I could visit there for free if I wanted, but there's just too much fish in the Japanese diet and I can't stand fish at all so I'd pretty much starve and die over there, lol.  I'm not in any hurry to visit Japan.  Don't care for all the earthquakes or the language, or the fact that the country basically stole my son's heart and soul, he loves it there and is engaged, I struggle with the busted up nuclear family issue. He was there for the big earthquake in 2011.  He has cracks in his wall.  On more than one occasion we were talking on Skype and his room starts shaking all over the place.   My Mother's heart doesn't handle it well at all.  Nah, no love for Japan that's for sure!

Llama Momma, I'll take that free ticket!!   Also, there really are lots of non-fish dishes.  I promise you wouldn't starve.   

Seriously though, I do understand.  One of the things I don't miss is the earth moving under my feet.     I can empathize with you regarding your son, as well.  I can't imagine my children and grandchildren living that far away.  They're all within 5 miles of where we live, and I babysit my 2 yr. old grandson 4 to 5 days a week.  I'm sure I would be devastated if they ever moved away. 

It's really easy to fall in love with Japan, though.  But honestly, I have no desire to live there again.  A visit once in a while would be sufficient.    Until then, growing my favorite Japanese onions in my square foot garden will have to suffice.