Growing Chinese cabbage, also Wong bok, wong nga pak, napa cabbage

Brassica rapa (Pekinensis Group) : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
        S              
          T            
          P            

(Best months for growing Chinese cabbage in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow direct in the garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 30 cm apart
  • Harvest in 8-10 weeks. Harvest whole head or you can take a few leaves at a time..
  • 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 (chilli, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard
  • Chinese Cabbage (commons.wikimedia.org - Sous Chef Photos - CC-BY-2.0)

Large oval shape with crinkly light green leaves and white stems. Wider at the base. Grows easily from seeds. Prefers cooler weather. Best grown fast with plenty of fertiliser and water.

Watch for slugs and snails.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Chinese cabbage

Use in stir-fry. Has a milder flavour than regular cabbage.
Shred the inner leaves and stems to use in coleslaw salad.

Your comments and tips

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27 Nov 19, Sera Taole (Australia - temperate climate)
Iam a home gadener in Fiji.Been tryin g to get my napa cabbage to have a head .The leaves seem to be taller and wider.l have not given up hope yet... would be grateful for advice to get my plant looking like the one on pictures.
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24 Dec 19, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate)
You're not alone! I have *never* been able to get mine to naturally head like it's supposed to, and I've tried several different seed varieties of Napa cabbage. An older gardener told me to tie them loosely with twine once the plants started to get fairly big (he said to do the same with cauliflower) and also to make sure I'm planting in the coolest months possible, amending my soil to make it more acidic (mine is very alkaline), adding phosphorus but not too much nitrogen, and making sure the plant is getting enough water. The twine trick worked fairly well, but it seems like
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Chinese cabbage germinate very quickly. I have them germinating now. You could do it in May June July outside. If now make up a little tray of light soil, plant and keep moist - not really wet. They will germinate in 3-5 days.

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