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 70°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 12 - 16 inches 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
  • Young plants

Similar to Chinese cabbage but the leaves are smoother and the stalks are longer and thicker. Grows quickly and will also go to seed quickly in hot weather. Best grown in cooler months.

Needs plenty of water.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Pak Choy

You can treat Pak Choy as "cut and come again" or use the whole plant in one go, whichever suits your needs.

Your comments and tips

26 Sep 23, Mona Williamson (USA - Zone 8b climate)
First time grower, how will it look when time to harvest? I have some pretty leaves on it now.
28 Sep 23, Anonymous (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Check harvest time in the notes - like 6 weeks or whatever it says.
02 Nov 21, Charlie Huang (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I am in San Jose, CA, Zone 9b. Is there any typo for the best seed sowing months for Pak Choy? The page says that Pak Choy prefers the temp 70-85 for growing. The best months for sowing seed are Nov/Dec/Jan. But the average temp is around 45-70 for these 3 months. Also there is high risk for the frost. The Pak Choy seed packages I had shows the best seed sowing months are Sept/Oct and Feb/March/April. Gardenate.com is a wondaful website that I have been looking it for a long time, especially for the reminder. It will be even great if you can add some more Asian vegetable to your list, such as: Arugula / Tong Ho /Taiwan New Sword Leaf Lettuce / Yu Choi Sum / Gain Lan / Chinese Stem Lettuce / Xue-Li-Hong / Stem Mustard Zha Choy / Garlic Chives / RED STRIP Leaf Amaranth / Luffa / Green gourd / Spaghetti Squash / Winter melon / Hyacinth Bean / Long bean etc. I know a lot of Asian home gardeners in CA are looking for it. There are a lot vegetable planting information in the website now. But you are the one of them in the best list. Wish your online better and better.
05 Nov 21, Anonymous (USA - Zone 4a climate)
Look up a chart for temperatures required to germinate vegetables. If your soil temperature is lower than what is required it will probably take longer to germinate or not germinate at all. Soil temp is different to air temp. A lot of the Asian greens would grow in the same climate zone and in similar seasons. Consideration has to be given to how hot it might be, how wet (storms etc) pests and diseases etc,
12 Mar 12, houston (USA - Zone 7a climate)
please explain thinning and what happens if its not done

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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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