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
  • 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

01 May 08, Noelene Smith (Unknown climate)
I love this vegetable, but it goes to seed so quickly, is there any way to stop this ?
15 Dec 08, Freya Su (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You can't! Sow smallish lots every two weeks to get a constant supply. You have to pick the whole vegetable at harvest.
16 Dec 08, Mary (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been growing Pak Choy/Choy Sum in Sydney, Australia for the last 25 years as I am Chinese in origin. The short fat variety Pak Choy is easier to grow. The long green stem Choy Sum is terribly hard to grow. Don't try in summer months unless you protect them under shadecloth. Need to water them at least twice a day or else you will get flowers within days. Use plenty of mulch and organic fertilzer. They grow very rapidly - 30 days before you pick. So you really need to feed them well. If you can get seeds that are 80 days variety (slow growing) you have a better chance.
22 Aug 21, Zamilah (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm in Sydney and just bought a punnet of pak choi, for the first time. Where should I plant them, in shade or full sun?
05 Feb 09, PEEN (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
anybody have documents that dedails about pak chio?
03 Mar 09, Shanti (Australia - temperate climate)
Does anybody know where I can get Choy Sum seeds in Melbourne?
14 Mar 09, Jeff (Australia - temperate climate)
I have bought them from a website: newgipps.com.au. There is a 'minimum order', so you would need to order other seeds at the same time, which was what I did. I have also found them under the Mr. Fothergill's brand in the "seeds" section in my local Bunnings or Kmart garden section. also in response to PEEN on Pak Choy, there are various documents on the net, Just do a Google search, eg, 'how to grow pak choy'.
04 May 09, Merl (Australia - temperate climate)
In Tatura (central Victoria) planted pak choy as seedlings from Bunnings not the best soil water every few days Thrive liquid fert. every 2 weeks shadecloth cover over when temp over 40. Don,t pick the whole plant anymore just cut off the leaves needed that day (treat it like silverbeet). Planted these before Xmas and just starting to slow down now,no sign of flowers.
14 Aug 09, cliff (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi all, I experimented growing pak choy with hydroponics using 100mm plastic down pipes with caps on the ends, and holes cut with a hole saw to take 12 foam cups which were filled with perlite, I cut slots in the side of the foam cups with a gass powered hot knife placed all this on tressels. Had great success, I just picked stems as I needed them, later I used square or oblong down pipe as you just lay them on the tressel no need to tie down, and the round pipe I hung on the fence with rope, worked a treat.
19 Aug 09, garden_mon (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi all! I am growing some pak/bok choy in my little organic vegie patch and just as they are getting to a decent size yellow spots are appearing on the leaves... I think they might be borers? Does anyone have any suggestions as to what it could be? Or any tips to fight off/distract these little nasties (organically)???
Showing 1 - 10 of 92 comments

Where can I buy Chinese vegetable seed in bulk in South Africa

- Minty

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.