Bok choy
Brassica rapa (Chinensis)
Fast, crisp and happiest in spring or fall.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 11
Light: part shade to full sun
Size: about 1 ft tall, 1 ft wide
Harvest: May to October
From: China
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Native to: East Asia. Hardy in zones 2 to 11.
The story
Pak choi has been grown in China for 1,500 years and is the everyday green of the southern Chinese kitchen, stir-fried with garlic; it came west with Chinese immigrants and grows faster than any cabbage.
Planting
Full sun or light shade, rich moist soil; sow directly in early spring and again in late summer, half an inch deep, thinned to 8 inches.
Growing
Water steadily and feed with compost; it grows in six weeks and bolts in heat or after cold snaps. Cover against flea beetles.
Harvest and use
Cut whole plants at 6 to 12 inches, or pick outer leaves. Autumn crops are the most reliable.
What to watch for
Flea beetles, cabbage worms, and bolting.
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home