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

07 Jul 11, Margaret Mangelsdorf (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What is the best way to harvest pak choy?
23 Dec 11, Keith Goodwin (Australia - temperate climate)
Can someone explain the difference between pak choy and bok choy
03 Jan 12, Tim McGrath (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown both at Tocumwal. I have found Pak Choi has a very short season here, presumably because of our very warm climate (very short and mild winter). Bok Choy (grown from bought seedlings) has a much longer season here and in my opinion is a much better veg. Pak Choy has a loose and untidy habit, Bok Choy has a tighter habit and more succulent leaves and stems. Bok Choy has very light green stems. Pak Choy has white stems. (I did aquire some Red Pak Choy seeds from Diggers Club. Better than white and longer season, but far short of Bok Choy on all counts.). I bought some "Bok Choy seeds" a few months ago. I don't know what they were, but they were not Bok Choy. I guess the commercial plant nurseries have a monolpy on the seed.
02 Feb 12, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Keith, the names from Chinese translated should really read Bahk Choi Bahk = white Choic - Cabbage! so thats the one with the white base, And re nibblers, if you have the time you can also just turn the leaves over, and you may find tiny white spots, they are the babies of the white butterfly that will eat and make the "holes" I just rub them off, if they have gotten under the mozzie netting.
12 Mar 12, houston (USA - Zone 7a climate)
please explain thinning and what happens if its not done
14 Mar 13, Thomas Houseman (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I notice a lot of vegies have "Avoid planting with" advice. Can I ask why and what are the side effects of doing so? Thanks.
27 Mar 13, Jade (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
you will find it is bug related or nutrient related. the bugs will get together to the point you have a big colony, or you will find the plants take up similar nutrients and deplete the soil. Best planting with plants that repel each other's bugs and release beneficial nutrients for each other.
23 Mar 13, Soldier (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it okay if I just leave my Pak Choi outside for winter (there are minimal amounts of frost here) or do I have to do some frost protection?
24 Mar 13, Rebecca (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I believe it is the same, just another name. It is also called Chinese chard, white cabbage and Tsoi sum.
25 Mar 13, Joe (Australia - tropical climate)
Comment. I am in Nth. Qld. and since New Year 2013 have produced 3 crops of Pak Choy. 2 dozen at a time. I am going to give a link for people to understand some asian vegetables and names. I find that Thai seeds germinate in about half the amount of time as Australian seed. e.g. yard long beans 2 and three quarter days. My wife and I also have two types of gingers growing. Ginger is underestimated in the Australian diet. However I have a 25% shade cloth above my garden to mist the rain and help prevent mid-day heat. Asian vegetables names from the SMH will give you the site, as no links allowed here. my seeds come in through customs, and my son is married to a Thai girl. I have the greatest respect for the Thai vegetable diet.
Showing 31 - 40 of 92 comments

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