How To Grow Pak Choi (Beginner’s Guide)
My first introduction to Pak Choi took place within a rusty orange booth under a moody, warm white light that was glistening off the broth in my bowl of miso ramen soup. It was my first time eating ramen, and I was blown away by the kick of aromatic spice and fresh ingredients that were cooked to perfection. Apart from the broth, it was the green, leafy vegetable with a white stalk that caught my attention.
It looked a lot like kale but also like celery and lettuce. The taste? Well, it was cooked and seasoned, but I could tell that the leaves held a similar blend of chlorophyll found in other green leafy vegetables.
Upon doing some research, I learned that it was Pak Choi. Also known as boy choy and poc choi, pak choi is a type of Chinese cabbage that doesn’t form heads. Uncooked, it is crunchy, crispy, and earthy, much like other forms of cabbage and cruciferous plants.
So, I decided to grow a batch in my own garden, and with great success!
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Varieties
The following is a list of pak choi varieties along with a brief description of their appearance.
1. Shanghai bok choy: pale green and spoon-shaped leaves with light green stems.
2. Canton white: broad, dark green leaves with a thick, crunchy white stem.
3. Baby pak choi: small and tender light green leaves with light green stems.
4. Choy Sum (Flowering): thin and deep green leaves with weak stems and yellow flowers.
5. Tatsoi (Tat Choy): spoon-shaped and crinkly dark green leaves in the shape of a rosette.
6. Joi Choi: large and broad, dark green leaves with crisp white stems.
7. Purple bok choy: purple leaves with green undersides and pale green stems.
8. Misome: smooth and glossy dark green leaves that are spoon-shaped with pale green and crunchy stems.
Planting Pak Choi
Sowing Seeds
Outdoor sewing: You can sew seeds directly into the ground or in containers with potting soil. Aim to insert seeds about ¼ inch deep and space them out about 6 inches apart for optimal growth.
Indoor sewing: You can sow seeds indoors within pots and containers using potting soil or compost 4–6 weeks before the last frost date, and once they reach about 3–4 inches tall, transfer them outdoors. Use adequate lighting for warmth and regular watering for adequate moisture.
Environment
Climate: Pak Choi thrives in cool environments with light frost. Tropical climates are ideal for growing this Chinese cabbage during the months of spring and late summer.
Sunlight: Full sun exposure for about 6 hours per day is preferable with partial shade.
Soil: Pak choi grows in well-drained, irrigated, fertile soil with a pH balance of 6.0 to 7.5.
Care And Maintenance
Fertilizer: It is best to use a balanced fertilizer (affiliate link from Amazon) or compost to nourish the soil and provide the necessary nutrients for pak choi to grow as quickly as possible. Compost tea may also be used to fertilize the soil.
Watering: Consistently wet soil provides the perfect environment for Pak Choi to grow. Use an irrigation system to keep the soil wet, but be mindful of waterlogging if you are growing them in containers or pots.
Mulching: To retain moisture and prevent weeds from inhibiting the development of Pak Choi, scatter mulch around the base of your plants.
Pests And Diseases
Common pests: aphids, cabbage whiteflies, flea beetles, slugs, snails, cabbage worms, cutworms, and leaf miners.
Diseases: Pak Choi is generally disease-resistant but it can be susceptible to root rot caused by waterlogging or excessive moisture.
Remedies: A good amount of air circulation and spacing can mitigate a lot of issues, along with natural pesticides or neem oil. I also use a watering bottle with a pressure hose to gently blast common pests away from the Pak Choi.
Harvesting
Timing: Generally, it can take up to 60 days for pak choi to reach full growth and about 30 days from the point at which they develop their true leaves. For most varieties, leaves the size of your hand and stalks the size of two fingers tend to indicate readiness for harvesting.
Method: You can harvest individual leaves by cutting each stalk near the base of the plant, or you can cut the whole plant at the base.
Companion Plants
Good companion plants: carrots, celery, beans, onions, mint, basil, thyme, and dill.
Bad companion plants: tomatoes and strawberries because they attract a lot of pests that may attack your Pak Choi plants.
FAQ
1. How long does Pak Choi take to grow?
From seed to full plant, it may take up to 60 days until it is ready for harvesting. But, once the true leaves have formed, pak choi can take just 30 days until they are fully grown.
2. Will Pak Choi regrow after being cut?
Yes, it will because pak choi is a cut-and-come-again crop that will develop new stalks and leaves after harvesting so long as the stem and base are intact.
3. Does Pak Choi need to be netted?
Yes, it most certainly needs to be netted because they are vulnerable to Brassica’s growing problems. You will have to fend off your pak choi from aphids, cabbage whiteflies, caterpillars, root flies, snails, slugs, and even birds. In my case, cabbage whiteflies have been the biggest issue I’ve faced.
4. Where is the best place to plant Pak Choi?
Pak choi grows best when it is planted in soil that is well-drained with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and where full sun is available with partial shade.
5. Can you grow Pak Choi in containers?
It is possible to grow pak choi in containers if there is enough space and soil for it to thrive. An average-sized container or pot for plants should be adequate for a single pak choi plant because of its shallow rooting. Larger pots may accommodate more than one plant.
6. When is the best time to plant Pak Choi?
It is recommended that pak choi be planted during spring and late summer. The months of the year will vary depending on where you are located in the world, but these seasons are the best. For plants that have already formed their true leaves, they can be transplanted into the garden whenever you purchase them, and they will grow, provided that you create the conditions that are necessary for growth.
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