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 - sub-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

Your comments and tips

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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.
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07 Jul 11, Margaret Mangelsdorf (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What is the best way to harvest pak choy?
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03 Apr 11, Jes (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I'm new to gardening so i went and did a workshop on No Dig Gardening and planted bok choy, literally the day after something has started eating the leaves. Does anyone know a homemade chemical free deterrent for what ever it is that is eating them and what it might be that is attacking them?
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10 Jun 11, Alexis (Australia - temperate climate)
Further to coffee grounds/eternal vigilance suggestion: netting can help stop butterflies/moths from laying eggs around your veg.
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10 Jun 11, Alexis (Australia - temperate climate)
Coffee grounds are a good snail/slug deterrent, as are eggshells. (Are coffee grounds chemical free?) You need something else for the 'pillars, though. White oil? Ducks? Eternal vigilance?
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07 Apr 11, -Linda (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
after about 3 weeks, my Boc Choi leaves started getting little holes appearing. Today ( day 3 of holes) I got down close and found a very plump green catapillar...
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09 Apr 11, Alison Sizer (Australia - temperate climate)
I have used a chilli spray to some effect. boil up some red chilli flakes or fresh if you have some spare! Cool and dilute strained spicy liquid into a spray bottle. No good for mexican bugs:)
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29 Oct 10, Pam Hall (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Planted Pak Choi 4weeks ago didn't realise it was a cool weather plant its now tall yellow flowers only a few leaves what can I do?
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09 Feb 13, Kat (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I suggest letting it going to seed, harvesting the seeds and trying growing it again when its cooler.
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02 Dec 10, Tracey (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Pam, Pak Choi/Bok Choy are best planted after midsummer, when day length is decreasing, as increasing day-length will signal it to flower. Once it has started to flower you can't stop it (but you can still eat it!). Sow some more seeds at the end of the summer and through the autumn and you should be fine.
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