Bok Choy Grow Guide (2024)

Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis

Bok Choy Grow Guide (1)

Crop Rotation Group

Brassicas (Cabbage family)

Soil

Any sunny site with good drainage.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Bok choy can tolerate light frost, but exposure to cold temperatures in spring can trigger early bolting. In fall, exposure to light frost can improve bok choy's flavor.

Feeding

Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting.

Companions

Also grown with other greens found in mesclun mixtures. Miniature varieties are available for square foot gardens and containers.

Spacing

Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 7" (20cm) with 9" (25cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Sow bok choy in spring and again in late summer for harvest in fall. Sow in double rows, with rows spaced 10 inches (25 cm) apart. Plant seeds 2 inches (5 cm) apart and barely cover them with soil. Gradually thin to 8 inches (20 cm) apart. Miniature varieties can be grown 3 inches (8 cm) apart.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Also spelled pac choi, this lovely little mustard cousin is fast and easy to grow.

Harvesting

Pull whole plants for use in the kitchen.

Troubleshooting

Flea beetles often chew small holes in bok choy leaves in spring, but are less of a problem in the fall.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Bok Choy

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Bok Choy Grow Guide (2024)

FAQs

Bok Choy Grow Guide? ›

Bok choy only takes 45 days to reach maturity, so you can enjoy your leafy greens relatively quickly after planting them. Harvest the bok choy before the hot weather sets in, because the hot weather will make the bok choy go to seed very fast. Bok choy is ready to harvest when it reaches 12 to 18 inches tall.

How long does bok choy take to grow? ›

Bok choy only takes 45 days to reach maturity, so you can enjoy your leafy greens relatively quickly after planting them. Harvest the bok choy before the hot weather sets in, because the hot weather will make the bok choy go to seed very fast. Bok choy is ready to harvest when it reaches 12 to 18 inches tall.

Will bok choy grow back if you cut it? ›

Can you regrow bok choy? Yes, you sure can, and it's super simple. If you're a thrifty person, regrowing bok choy is a nice alternative to throwing the leftovers in the compost bin or garbage can.

Where does bok choy grow best? ›

Bok Choy Growing Guide
  • Brassicas (Cabbage family) ●
  • Any sunny site with good drainage.
  • Full sun.
  • Bok choy can tolerate light frost, but exposure to cold temperatures in spring can trigger early bolting. ...
  • Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting.

How to care for bok choy plants? ›

Add compost and organic fertilizer to the soil when planting bok choy. These plants are heavy feeders, preferring soil that is rich in potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. But organic feeding should be done at the time of planting. Chemical fertilizers should not be used during its growth period.

Is bok choy worth growing? ›

These plants are a boon for gardeners in a hurry as they are quick and easy to grow and just as easy to cook in a quick stir-fry or as a bowl of steamed vegetables. Bok choy has been cultivated in China since at least the 5th century AD.

What can I plant near bok choy? ›

Plant bok choy with these companions:
  • Beets.
  • Bush beans.
  • Carrots.
  • Celery.
  • Cucumber.
  • Dill.
  • Garlic and onions.
  • Potatoes.
Sep 28, 2018

Can you stop bok choy from bolting? ›

Be aware that bok choy plant bolt can occur when nighttime temperatures drop below 55 degrees F. (13 C.). Of course, Mother Nature can never be completely relied on, so one of the easiest answers for how to prevent bolting in bok choy is to grow it in a cold frame where you have more control over temperature.

Does bok choy like sun or shade? ›

While it grows well in full sunshine, bok choy will also grow well in partial sun, about 3-5 hours daily. In hot climates, planting in a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade helps to delay bolting. Save those super-sunny sites for your tomatoes or sweet corn!

Does bok choy grow in pots? ›

Bok choy is a good-sized plant. To grow potted bok choy, begin with a pot with a depth of about 20 inches (50 cm.) and a width of at least 12 inches (31 cm.) in order to grow one plant.

Does bok choy grow well in summer? ›

Bok choy is a cool weather, cabbage-like vegetable that is grown for both its thick, crunchy white leaf ribs and its tender, green leaves. Since it thrives in cooler temperatures, the answer to “when to plant bok choy,” is either in the spring or fall.

What is the best month to plant bok choy? ›

Bok choy is an Asian cabbage variety that grows best in spring and late summer or fall. They bolt in summer, and that's why you can't grow them in summer in this part of the world where the days are very long. Doing a sowing in April was by my standards actually late.

Does bok choy keep growing after cutting? ›

Baby leaves are ready to pick in as little as 30 days – snip off individual leaves, only taking a few from each plant along the row, as a cut and come again crop. Plants will continue to produce fresh leaves for repeated pickings until they start to flower.

How to protect bok choy from insects? ›

A lot of these pests can be combatted with row covers and crop rotation. Another useful method is growing bok choy as a fall crop, when pests are past their natural growing season lifecycle. This is especially effective when combatting vegetable weevils. If natural methods fail, use insecticides.

Can you continually harvest bok choy? ›

Bok choy harvesting is done all season long. For a constant supply of the plant, sow seeds every two weeks until the high heat of summer arrives. Row covers will help supply some shelter from scorching sun and may extend the harvest. Cut off the plant at soil level when harvesting bok choy for the whole plant.

Can you grow bok choy in the summer? ›

Bok choy is an Asian cabbage variety that grows best in spring and late summer or fall.

Is bok choy a perennial or annual? ›

Does bok choy come back every year? Bok choy is a biennial, but in the second year, it will only flower and go to seed. So it is grown as an annual.

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