Growing Pak Choy, also Pak choi

Brassica campestris var. pekinensis : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
      T                
      P P              

(Best months for growing Pak Choy in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 21°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 30 - 40 cm apart
  • Harvest in 6-11 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile, coriander), lettuce, potatoes
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chili, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Your comments and tips

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15 Jul 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
Or research on the internet.
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02 Oct 21, Nancy (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Picture shows 2 to 3" apart, not 12" Looking at a veggie shop won't help if you have a different variety. Just try picking some leaves young they're very tender. Let a few plants get 12-15" harvest the whole thing. Experiment till you find what's best for you
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16 Jul 22, Nanday (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Size of pak choi/bok choi also depends on variety. For the first time this year, I grew SHUKU variety (sold as a Master Gardener packaged seed at Big W and elsewhere). It has been by far the biggest, most tender and tastiest of any variety I have ever grown, it is slow to bolt and grows to about 3 times the size of what is in the supermarkets, but still tender after the outer leaves are discarded.
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12 May 20, Scott F (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Are pak choy frost tolerant?
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18 May 20, Paul Lehmann (Australia - arid climate)
A light frost is not a problem but if you get a heavy Jack Frost they will go to God like any other plant. I'm in Arid Western Vic and get at least two or three Jack Frosts unless I cover them with a frost proofing cover.
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13 May 20, Anon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
By the planting guide for cool mountain climate I would say maybe an odd light frost. Where I live we don't have frosts. They are a cool weather crop.
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20 Nov 18, Briar (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Do you pinch out the yellow flowers on bok choy? Is it going to seed?
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22 Nov 18, OrleneOnline (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Yep it is going to seed, you can cut off the base of the bolt (the stem of the flower). For some varieties of pak choi these flowers are edible. Once your plant does bolt the leaves tend become more bitter, still edible just something to note.
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22 Nov 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Yes it is going to seed. Yes pinch the flower off.
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24 Sep 18, Werner Kemp (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Were in the Eastern Cape ,specific In Port Elizabeth ,South Africa can I find a distributor or shop who,sells The Chinese Pak or Bok Choy white Cabbage . ? yours Werner
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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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