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Growing Chinese cabbage, also Wong bok, wong nga pak

(Brassica rapa (Pekinensis Group))

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
				S	P

(Best months for planting Chinese cabbage in USA - Zone 5a regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

Easy to grow. Sow direct in the garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: 30 cm apart
Harvest in 8-10 weeks. Harvest whole head or you can take a few leaves at a time.
Compatible with: Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile, coriander), lettuce, potatoes
Avoid growing with: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chilli, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Large oval shape with crinkly light green leaves and white stems. Wider at the base. Grows easily from seeds. Prefers cooler weather. Best grown fast with plenty of fertiliser and water.

Watch for slugs and snails.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Chinese cabbage

Use in stir-fry . Has a milder flavour than regular cabbage.
Shred the inner leaves and stems to use in coleslaw salad.

Your comments and tips

18 Jun 10, Diana Adelaide (Australia - temperate climate): Growing Wong Bok for the first time.It grows more faster than normal cabbage. I wonder if I have to tie around the veggie for obtaining firm compact leaves.
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07 Jan 11, Lily Flax (Australia - temperate climate): Yes tie up the leaves and feed, the faster the wong bok grows beore it goes to seed you get a bigger plant and more compact head
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29 Jul 11, Chrissie (Australia - temperate climate): For the best Wombok recipe EVER - Google Chang's Oriental Fried Noodle Salad and get the recipe from the Chang's website. My partner demands that I make it at least once a fortnight - so I am growing my own Wombok now! The dressing has the perfect balance of flavours.
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01 Sep 12, Paul (Australia - temperate climate): HELP ! I bought some 5 wks ago, already growing a little, gave them water etc, cold climate, but took them in at night to avoid frost. 5 weeks later 12" tall and with flowers. Gone to seed ? Meaning ? What do I do ? thanks
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09 Sep 12, Ray (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Happens to me a lot with the Chinese cabbage family. Found it best to plant from seed, 4 or 5 in a clump and thin to strongest. Then pick and eat as soon as they are a useful size. They go to seed faster in the warm weather.
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26 Oct 12, Lisa (Australia - temperate climate): Hi. Can u eat all of the Wong Bok? Including the middle not so green bit?? Thank you
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14 Nov 12, Brian Larsson (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Yes, certainly. There are several Chinese recipes using all of the cabbage. Google 'Chinese cabbage in cream sauce', especially the HongkongTaste.com. It can also be chopped or julienned and used in stir fried vegetable dishes as a crunchy celery substitute.
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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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