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

Your comments and tips

22 Oct 09, rob smith (Australia - temperate climate)
i have planted pak choy from a punnett two weeks ago and they growing very well however they have yellow flowers on them . is this natural or have i done something wrong?
03 Jun 10, Prasadi (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
i have planted pak choy and they growing very well however they have yellow flowers on them . is this natural or something wrong?
04 Jun 10, Chris@Gardenate (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Prasadi, it means that you have let them grow a bit too long, and they might be a bit tough or strong flavoured. Usually you would pick pak choy before any flowers open. You can still try eating it - it might be ok.
08 Jun 10, CC (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Pak Choy usually go to seed whenever there is a seasonal change or sudden change in temperature. It can happen when the weather turns hot from cold or cold from hot, or just a few colder days during spring or summer.
07 Feb 11, (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate)
do now worry. the flower is natural. you can even eat the flower (before it blooming)
04 Jun 10, Mike (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
My pak choi has lots of Tony holes in its leaves - what could be doing that?
05 Jun 10, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The pak choi with all the holes in the leaves are most likley the white butterfly. They have been in plague proportions this year, the cold weather should see them go.
10 Jun 10, Bill44 (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
White fly and white butterfly's in general can be discouraged by growing sage throughout your garden, even better is marigolds but they tend to self seed and go everywhere. We started growing sage mixed in with everything else on the advice of the local nursery after losing a whole basil bush overnight to small white fly grubs.
15 Jun 10, Diana Adelaide (Australia - temperate climate)
In between pak choys , I plant coriander to confuse or deter those white flies or white butterflies. Pak choi grow very fast and shaded coriander which love it.
17 Jun 10, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
Mine is eaten very badly, half of some leaves are eaten away and the small plants have not got a chance to grow at all.
Showing 11 - 20 of 92 comments

Most leaf vegetables will do well in part shade. It is the fruiting ones such as beans, tomatoes, zucchinis, corn, etc that need more sun

- John

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