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
                    P P

(Best months for growing Chinese cabbage in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • 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 50°F and 68°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 12 inches 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

18 Jun 10, Diana Adelaide (Australia - temperate climate)
Growing Wong Bok for the first time.It grows more faster than normal cabbage. I wonder if I have to tie around the veggie for obtaining firm compact leaves.
07 Jan 11, Lily Flax (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes tie up the leaves and feed, the faster the wong bok grows beore it goes to seed you get a bigger plant and more compact head
29 Jul 11, Chrissie (Australia - temperate climate)
For the best Wombok recipe EVER - Google Chang's Oriental Fried Noodle Salad and get the recipe from the Chang's website. My partner demands that I make it at least once a fortnight - so I am growing my own Wombok now! The dressing has the perfect balance of flavours.
10 Apr 22, tt (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I’m successfully growing wombok in The Snowies at approx 800m I get them to ‘head’ by gathering in & loosely tying the outer leaves together with twine I’ve experimented with tied vs untied plants in the same bed … untied never ‘head’, tied plants always do Good luck!
01 Sep 12, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
HELP ! I bought some 5 wks ago, already growing a little, gave them water etc, cold climate, but took them in at night to avoid frost. 5 weeks later 12" tall and with flowers. Gone to seed ? Meaning ? What do I do ? thanks
09 Sep 12, Ray (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Happens to me a lot with the Chinese cabbage family. Found it best to plant from seed, 4 or 5 in a clump and thin to strongest. Then pick and eat as soon as they are a useful size. They go to seed faster in the warm weather.
26 Oct 12, Lisa (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi. Can u eat all of the Wong Bok? Including the middle not so green bit?? Thank you
14 Nov 12, Brian Larsson (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Yes, certainly. There are several Chinese recipes using all of the cabbage. Google 'Chinese cabbage in cream sauce', especially the HongkongTaste.com. It can also be chopped or julienned and used in stir fried vegetable dishes as a crunchy celery substitute.
02 Sep 13, Terry Moloney (Australia - temperate climate)
Mine have all gone to seed. Is it possible to eat the leaves although the cabbage has not formed, all I have is a tall stalk with large leaves?
29 Dec 13, Gina Bubb (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I lived in NZ in the North Island and wish to grow the Chinese Cabbage Wombok that I use to find readily available in Aussie in the supermarkets. I have looked everywhere and no one seems to know what I'm talking about when I asked in the supermarkets here in NZ. They only seen to stock the Asian green Bok Choy. I wish to be able to grow it if possible so, want to know if I can get seeds here in NZ.
Showing 1 - 10 of 40 comments

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