🥦 Bok Choy (Pak Choi)

Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis

vegetables brassica (Asian green, leafy vegetable)

☀️ Sun

Full sun (6 hours) in cool weather; partial shade (3, 5 hours) in warm weather to delay bolting; afternoon shade is beneficial

💧 Water

Medium, high; 1, 1.5 inches per week; MUST have consistent moisture , any drought stress triggers bolting; mulch heavily around plants

🗺️ Zones

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

🧪 Soil pH

6.0, 7.5 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline)

🪴 Soil Type

Rich, moisture-retentive, well-drained loam with high organic matter; bok choy is a fast-growing heavy feeder , needs generous compost

🚿 Drainage

Well-drained but consistently moist; bok choy has shallow roots and needs steady moisture access

📏 Spacing

Standard: 8, 12 inches apart; baby bok choy: 4, 6 inches apart; rows 12, 18 inches; baby varieties spaced closer

⏱️ Maturity

30-45 days (from seed) for baby; 45-60 days for full size

🍴 Edible Parts

🍽️ Leaves (petioles and blades , entire plant eaten) 🍽️ Stems/stalks (crisp, juicy , the main edible portion) 🍽️ Flower stalks (bolting stems are edible and sweet , like broccoli raab) 🍽️ Baby bok choy (harvest whole at 4, 6 inches)

Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone

🤝 Companions (7)

🤝 Carrot

Different root depths , bok choy is shallow-rooted, carrots are deep; carrots loosen soil; bok choy provides living mulch

🤝 Dill

Attracts predatory wasps that parasitize cabbage worms; repels aphids

🤝 Lettuce

Similar shallow roots and moisture needs; both cool-season crops; bok choy harvested before lettuce matures

🤝 Mint (contained)

Repels flea beetles and cabbage moths; must be container-grown to prevent spreading

🤝 Nasturtium

Trap crop for aphids; repels cabbage loopers; ground cover retains moisture IMPORTANT management caveat: without active management, nasturtiums can become a SOURCE of aphids that migrate to nearby crops. Either remove aphid-infested nasturtium plants promptly, or treat the trap crop itself to eliminate the aphid colony before it spreads. Strategic placement within 4-5 feet of protected crops is key.

🤝 Onion/Garlic/Chives

Repels aphids and cabbage worms from bok choy; allium's sulfur compounds mask brassica scent

🤝 Spinach

Similar growing conditions; spinach harvested before bok choy needs full space; complementary root zones

⚠️ Keep Apart (4)

⚠️ Fennel

Allelopathic , severely inhibits bok choy growth

⚠️ Pole bean / Runner bean

Beans may be stunted by brassica root exudates; nitrogen fixed by beans may cause bok choy to bolt faster

⚠️ Strawberry

Mutual growth inhibition between brassicas and strawberries

⚠️ Tomato

Brassicas can stunt tomato growth through allelopathic root exudates

💊 Medicinal Uses

Medicinal Properties

Excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin A
Contains glucosinolates with anti-cancer properties (particularly sulforaphane)
Rich in calcium (crunchy white stems), potassium, and folate
Contains quercetin , anti-inflammatory flavonoid
Traditional Chinese medicine: considered 'cooling' food , used to reduce inflammation and fever

📝 Growing Notes

Bok choy (also pak choi, Chinese cabbage , though distinct from Napa cabbage) is one of the fastest brassicas , harvest in 30, 45 days. Two main types: standard (large, white-stemmed) and baby/shanghai (smaller, green-stemmed, more tender). Bolting is the #1 problem , triggered by heat (>75°F), drought, or transplant shock. Direct seed for best results; if transplanting, start in biodegradable pots. Flea beetles love bok choy , floating row covers essential in many areas. Great for succession planting (every 2 weeks in spring/fall). 'Tatsoi' is a closely related flat rosette form.

🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Johnny's Selected Seeds Botanical Interests True Leaf Market Burpee Territorial Seed Company

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