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Richard H. Molinar, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Fresno County Michael Yang, UC Agricultural Assistant, Fresno County Karen M. Klonsky, UC Cooperative Extension Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis Richard L.
The category of "Asian vegetables" includes a wide array of Cucurbits, Solanum, Monocots and Legumes that are most popular at ethnic Asian markets. Many of these vegetables are gaining mainstream culinary followings as well.
Several niches have been identified under the umbrella of specialty melons: miniature-sized watermelons, organic melons, and non-standard varieties such as yellow-fleshed watermelons. Several Small Farm Program advisors work with melon varities in field trials.
September 2001 By Richard Molinar and Michael Yang UC Cooperative Extension in Fresno County This leaflet made possible through a grant from The Great Valley Center, Modesto, CA And assistance from the Small Farm Center, Davis, CA Fresno County has the largest number of Asian farm operators in Calif...
Bittermelon - Mormodica charantia:a native of India, is a member of the Cucurbit family. It is usually grown on a trellis system and is roughly about the size of a zucchini, but warty. The only pests found attacking the plant in the Central Valley are parasitic root knot nematodes.
Chinese long beans - (Vigna sesquipedalis): Also called the asparagus bean and yardlong bean, the plants are long training vines grown on trellises. The plants are susceptible to black bean aphids, spider mites, nematodes, and mosaic viruses.
Lemongrass - (Cymbopogan citratus): probably originated in either Malaysia or India. It is a perennial grass propagated entirely vegetatively from stems as seed is seldom produced.
Thai Pepper - (Capsicum annuum): other varieties are grown as well, including the jalapeo, serrano, etc. The Thai peppers are very hot (hotter than the jalapeo and serrano), which does not diminish when cooked.
