Chinese cabbage 'Pak choi'

1200 seeds

Pak Choi (also spelled Bok Choy or Bok Choi) is a fast-growing Asian leafy vegetable valued for its crisp white stems and tender dark green leaves. It is excellent for stir-fries, soups, salads, steaming, and steaming whole baby plants. It grows best during the cool season in the Gulf and matures quickly.

Best Planting Time

• October to February (recommended)
• Successive sowings every 2–3 weeks provide continuous harvests.
• Avoid sowing during the hot summer months, as heat causes early bolting.

Seed Preparation

• No soaking is required.
• Sow fresh, high-quality seeds.
• No cold stratification is needed.

Soil Preparation

Use fertile, loose, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil.

Recommended mix:

• 40% Garden soil
• 30% Well-rotted compost
• 20% Coco peat
• 10% Perlite or coarse sand

Ideal soil pH:

• 6.0–7.5

Sowing Method

• Sow directly into the garden or in seed trays.
• Plant seeds 0.5–1 cm deep.
• Cover lightly with fine soil.
• If using trays, transplant seedlings when they have 3–4 true leaves, taking care not to disturb the roots.

Temperature & Light

• Ideal germination temperature: 15–24°C
• Ideal growing temperature: 15–25°C
• Requires 4–6 hours of direct sunlight or bright filtered light.
• In warmer Gulf regions, provide afternoon shade to improve leaf quality.

Watering

• Keep the soil consistently moist during germination.
• Water whenever the top 2–3 cm of soil becomes dry.
• Maintain even moisture to produce crisp, tender stems.
• Avoid prolonged waterlogging.

Germination Time

• 4–8 days

Plant Spacing

• 20–30 cm between plants.
• 30–40 cm between rows.

Harvesting

• Baby leaves: 25–30 days
• Full-size plants: 40–55 days
• Harvest the whole plant or pick outer leaves regularly for continuous production.

Fertilization

• Mix compost into the soil before planting.
• Apply a balanced vegetable fertilizer every 2–3 weeks.
• Moderate nitrogen encourages healthy leaf production without excessive soft growth.

Gulf Climate Tips

• Grow only during the cool season.
• Water early in the morning.
• Mulch lightly to keep soil cool.
• Harvest promptly to prevent bolting as temperatures rise.
• Monitor for aphids, cabbage worms, flea beetles, whiteflies, downy mildew, and powdery mildew.
• Pak Choi grows exceptionally well in raised beds, containers, hydroponic systems, vegetable gardens, and kitchen gardens throughout the Gulf.