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 S S            
        T T T T        
        P P P          

(Best months for growing Pak Choy in Australia - tropical 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

13 Jul 20, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
How big do pak choi grow
14 Jul 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Depends on how much fertiliser you apply. Have a look in a supermarket or vegie shop next time.
15 Jul 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
Or research on the internet.
02 Oct 21, Nancy (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Picture shows 2 to 3" apart, not 12" Looking at a veggie shop won't help if you have a different variety. Just try picking some leaves young they're very tender. Let a few plants get 12-15" harvest the whole thing. Experiment till you find what's best for you
16 Jul 22, Nanday (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Size of pak choi/bok choi also depends on variety. For the first time this year, I grew SHUKU variety (sold as a Master Gardener packaged seed at Big W and elsewhere). It has been by far the biggest, most tender and tastiest of any variety I have ever grown, it is slow to bolt and grows to about 3 times the size of what is in the supermarkets, but still tender after the outer leaves are discarded.
12 May 20, Scott F (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Are pak choy frost tolerant?
18 May 20, Paul Lehmann (Australia - arid climate)
A light frost is not a problem but if you get a heavy Jack Frost they will go to God like any other plant. I'm in Arid Western Vic and get at least two or three Jack Frosts unless I cover them with a frost proofing cover.
13 May 20, Anon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
By the planting guide for cool mountain climate I would say maybe an odd light frost. Where I live we don't have frosts. They are a cool weather crop.
11 Apr 18, Clive (Australia - temperate climate)
Can Pak Choi be grown in a PVC greenhouse during East Gippsland (Lakes Entrance) winter? Thanks someone.
12 Apr 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
You can grow most things in anything. Attention to sun, water and fertiliser is the key.
Showing 1 - 10 of 62 comments

Going by your region, I would say possibly only in the summer months, depending on how much shade you mean. I live in a warm temperate region, and grow it in full sun, all year round.

- Darren

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