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
    P P P              

(Best months for growing Pak Choy in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • 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
  • Young plants

Similar to Chinese cabbage but the leaves are smoother and the stalks are longer and thicker. Grows quickly and will also go to seed quickly in hot weather. Best grown in cooler months.

Needs plenty of water.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Pak Choy

You can treat Pak Choy as "cut and come again" or use the whole plant in one go, whichever suits your needs.

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for New Zealand | for all countries
26 Sep 23, Mona Williamson (USA - Zone 8b climate)
First time grower, how will it look when time to harvest? I have some pretty leaves on it now.
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28 Sep 23, Anonymous (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Check harvest time in the notes - like 6 weeks or whatever it says.
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02 May 23, Nida (New Zealand - temperate climate)
How many seedlings can be grown in a pot around 40cm in diameter and 50cm deep?
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08 May 23, Anonymous (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Look at the spacing guide between plants in the notes.
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02 Nov 21, Charlie Huang (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I am in San Jose, CA, Zone 9b. Is there any typo for the best seed sowing months for Pak Choy? The page says that Pak Choy prefers the temp 70-85 for growing. The best months for sowing seed are Nov/Dec/Jan. But the average temp is around 45-70 for these 3 months. Also there is high risk for the frost. The Pak Choy seed packages I had shows the best seed sowing months are Sept/Oct and Feb/March/April. Gardenate.com is a wondaful website that I have been looking it for a long time, especially for the reminder. It will be even great if you can add some more Asian vegetable to your list, such as: Arugula / Tong Ho /Taiwan New Sword Leaf Lettuce / Yu Choi Sum / Gain Lan / Chinese Stem Lettuce / Xue-Li-Hong / Stem Mustard Zha Choy / Garlic Chives / RED STRIP Leaf Amaranth / Luffa / Green gourd / Spaghetti Squash / Winter melon / Hyacinth Bean / Long bean etc. I know a lot of Asian home gardeners in CA are looking for it. There are a lot vegetable planting information in the website now. But you are the one of them in the best list. Wish your online better and better.
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05 Nov 21, Anonymous (USA - Zone 4a climate)
Look up a chart for temperatures required to germinate vegetables. If your soil temperature is lower than what is required it will probably take longer to germinate or not germinate at all. Soil temp is different to air temp. A lot of the Asian greens would grow in the same climate zone and in similar seasons. Consideration has to be given to how hot it might be, how wet (storms etc) pests and diseases etc,
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01 Sep 21, Neelo Kwape (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Kindly assist where i can get seeds, am in Botswana
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07 Sep 21, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
On the internet.
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13 Jul 20, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
How big do pak choi grow
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14 Jul 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Depends on how much fertiliser you apply. Have a look in a supermarket or vegie shop next time.
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Showing 1 - 10 of 92 comments
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I have been growing Pak Choy/Choy Sum in Sydney, Australia for the last 25 years as I am Chinese in origin. The short fat variety Pak Choy is easier to grow. The long green stem Choy Sum is terribly hard to grow. Don't try in summer months unless you protect them under shadecloth. Need to water them at least twice a day or else you will get flowers within days. Use plenty of mulch and organic fertilzer. They grow very rapidly - 30 days before you pick. So you really need to feed them well. If you can get seeds that are 80 days variety (slow growing) you have a better chance.

- Mary

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