Pak Choi

Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis)

Pak choi, or bok choi, is a type of Chinese cabbage. It is very popular in China and South East Asia. Because it is winter hardy, it is becoming increasingly grown in Northern Europe. Sow March-July directly into moist soil with lots of organic matter, 1 cm deep in rows spaced 45 cm apart. They can be grown as cut-and-come again plants, baby leaves, or fully mature plants. Gradually thin seedlings to 7.5-10 cm for baby leaf, to 20 cm for semi-mature plants and to 25-30 cm for mature plants. The thinnings can be eaten. Keep plants well watered throughout the growing period to avoid bolting (running to seed) and lack of flavour.

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Lisa Lueaffat

About

Seed Guardian, Wilton Estate Community Garden

Last year was the first year I got an allotment bed to grow, and I went mad. I had about thirty something different varieties going in that one little plot. Once I started the garden,...
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Where the seeds came from
I got them from a Chinese friend. I put the pak choi seeds and they came up nicely.

How to grow
I planted them end of June. They took a long time to come up. It’s quicker if you soak them for a couple of days. The pod splits and when you see the little root coming out, then you put it into soil. It gives them quite a boost in growth time. Once you’ve sown them you can start harvesting the leaves within 6 weeks. You can harvest the whole plant after two months, when it is fully mature. Unless you want to get seeds.
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