Bok Choy is one of the most commonly grown vegetables in homes. The key to growing these plants well, no matter where you live, starts with preparing a soil pH-saturated substrate which can be done by adding small quantities of manufactured or natural materials like peat moss and cow manure into your garden bed.
Bok Choy is a type of cabbage that has been grown for centuries. It is a staple in Asian cuisine, and it is easy to grow from stem. Read more in detail here: how to grow bok choy from stem.
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Don’t worry, planting bok choy is a piece of cake. Bok choy may blossom into a magnificent plant with the right knowledge and circumstances. It is very nutritious and a good source of vitamins A, C, K, and folate, in addition to being attractive. Because it is a low-calorie meal, it may easily be included into one’s diet for a fast crunchy snack.
Are you ready to cultivate this incredible plant in your own backyard? Continue reading to learn all you need to know about bok choy. This page will answer all of your questions about bok choy, from planting to caring for the plant.
Plant Profile: Bok Choy
Bok choy (Brassica rapa) is a Chinese biennial vegetable. This cool-season plant, also known as Chinese cabbage, pak choi, pak choy, and bok choy, is mostly utilized for culinary reasons. It may be found in a broad range of dishes, including soups, salads, and stir-fries.
Both the leaf and the stalk may be cooked or eaten raw for a pleasant and moderately acidic taste. To give you a better understanding of the flavor, it tastes like a cross between cabbage and chard.
Bok choy seems to have a crisp and smooth greenish-white colored stem that supports the plant’s leaves. The attractive green or purple leaves arch outwards to highlight the delicious, juicy core.
Contents
Planting of Bok Choy
This cruciferous plant comes in two varieties: seed and transplant. Early April is the best time to sow them. This manner, they’ll be ready to harvest in the spring or early summer. Many people like to harvest it in the autumn, thus they should be planted between late summer and early fall.
Growing Bok Choy Indoors:
- Step 1: For a dwarf type, prepare a container approximately 6 inches deep; for a full-sized bok choy plant, prepare a container about 8-10 inches deep.
- Step 2: After purchasing high-quality seeds from a nursery, plant them 14 to 12 inches deep in well-drained, nutritious soil.
- Step 3: Leave at least 1-2 inches between them.
- Step 4: Depending on the soil’s needs, compost might be applied.
- Step 5: Set the container in a bright spot.
- Step 6: Within a week, the seeds should begin to germinate.
- Step 7: Transplant the seedlings when they reach approximately 2 inches in height.
How to Grow Bok Choy in the Garden:
- Step 1: Plant the seeds in a sunny area in the backyard or garden.
- Step 2: Plant the seeds 14 inches deep in the soil, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Step 3: The planted area should be maintained wet and the soil should be organic and well-drained.
- Step 4: Using a rake, level out roughly one inch of compost.
- Bonus tip: Take a look at these incredible leaf rakes.
- Step 5: Germination should begin in a week or so.
- Step 6: Thin the seedlings to 6–10 inches apart when they reach a height of 4 inches.
Bok Choy transplanting instructions:
- Make sure that the transplanting is done in broad sunlight.
- After nighttime temperatures are certain to remain above 50°F, transplanting may begin. Bolting may occur at colder temperatures.
- Plant seedlings in organic, well-drained soil with lots of compost.
Basic Requirements for Growing Bok Choy
Once you are done with Planting of Bok Choy, there are still certain things to consider. This section discusses how to grow bok choy in terms of its soil, water, light, temperature, and fertilizer requirements.
Planting Area No. 1
The area chosen for Planting of Bok Choy should be free of any other cruciferous plants. Moreover, the spot should not even have a close history of growing other cruciferous members.
This is due to the fact that members of this family may readily spread pests to one another, causing considerable plant damage. If the soil was previously used to grow other cruciferous plants, germs or pests may still be present.
They can catch on to the roots of bok choy and ultimately ruin your Planting of Bok Choy. Thus, it would be wise to practice crop rotation to avoid planting similar vegetables year after year.
2. Soil
This cruciferous vegetable grows best in soil that is well-drained, rich in organic matter, and slightly acidic to neutral. The soil pH level should be between 6.5 and 7.0. A range of 6.0 to 7.5 might also suffice.
There is no need for extra nutrients if the soil is rich or if you have added compost. Consider applying some high-quality nitrogen fertilizer if the leaves start to turn yellow or the growth seems stunted.
There should never be any soggy soil. Weeds compete with nutrients, thus it should constantly be slightly wet and clear of weeds. Mulching 1–2 inches away from the plant’s base should help keep moisture in while keeping weeds out.
3. Thermometer
Bok choy is a cool-season, biennial vegetable that is often produced as an annual. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 2 to 11.
It can endure modest temperature fluctuations toward the hotter and colder sides, but not extremes such as a complete frost or drought conditions. There are certain types that can grow in hotter environments.
If temperatures drop too much, it can cause bok choy to bolt. Bolting is when the bok choy plant experiences a sudden change in its environment, which can lead to early flowering. This usually happens when temperatures fall below 55℉ during the night. Remember, the ideal temperature for Planting of Bok Choy is between 55 and 70℉.
4. Natural light
Planting of Bok Choy thrives in the sun, yes, but not too much. It blooms best in full sun and part shade. Approximately 3 to 5 hours of direct sunlight is considered best for these leafy greens. In case a slightly shady area is not available, you can attach a tarp over the Planting of Bok Choy base.
5. Water
Consistency in watering is important for these veggies. Remember not to oversaturate or waterlog the soil. Keep it wet.
Water the roots of the plants rather than the foliage. Wet leaves decay quickly, killing the plant. You may accomplish this using a variety of garden equipment, such as sprinklers or a hose. Just make sure the soil doesn’t become too dry.
How to Pick Bok Choy
The length of time it takes for bok choy to grow, as well as its ultimate height, is entirely dependent on the kind of bok choy planted. A normal variety matures in 45 days on average and may reach a height of 12 to 24 inches. The young bok choy, on the other hand, takes about a month to completely blossom and develops to just about 10 inches tall. In addition, when fully bloomed, bok choy resembles celery.
Technically, you can harvest bok choy as soon as you see useable leaves have grown. If the plant begins to bolt, though, pick it right away. Bolting may completely destroy the plant, leaving nothing to harvest.
Immature, fragile leaves may be utilized in salads after being trimmed down when thinning. Aside from that, there are two methods for harvesting bok choy:
- From just above the soil level, cut the whole plant in one snip.
- Leave the inner sensitive leaves alone and cut the elder leaves 1 inch above ground level. This will enable the expansion to continue.
If at all feasible, only collect a useable quantity. This is due to the fact that bok choy is difficult to store and has a limited shelf life unless dried or pickled.
Harvesting Tips for Bok Choy
- Regularly weed and mulch your garden. This allows the bok choy plant to receive as many nutrients as possible from the soil while limiting moisture loss.
- If the weather has been dry for a time, water the plant on a regular basis to keep it from bolting. During monsoons, wait until the soil is dry before watering it.
- Plant a new batch every two weeks to extend the harvest season. Keep in mind to cease immediately before summer, as warmer temperatures might hasten sowing.
- Companion planting may help to increase crop quality. Beets, bush beans, and carrots are some of the common companion plants for bok choy. For further information, see our companion planting guide.
- During the colder hours of the day, harvest the plant by hand. Snip it just above the soil level once again. This aids in moisture retention and may allow for the growth of more leaves in the same space.
Common Pests and Diseases (Planting of Bok Choy)
This plant, as beautiful, nutritious, and magnificent as it is, is nonetheless vulnerable to pests and illnesses. However, with adequate precautions, you may be able to manage or even totally prevent them!
Fungal Infections
Alternaria leaf spot is a fungus that causes black, brown, or grey patches with yellowish concentric rings on bok choy leaves. Abrasions on the leaves may cause them to become brittle and fracture. They might even be seen on the stem.
Buy a germ-free seed from a reputable supplier to avoid this sickness. If the plant has already been harmed, try using a fungicide and rotating crops.
A burnt look of the leaves is one of the symptoms of black rot. The margins of the leaves have yellow-colored uneven abrasions that progressively extend towards the center. This abrasion often takes the shape of a V. The bacterium that causes this is disseminated by splashing water on leaves, and it may also develop in warm, humid environments.
Black rot may be avoided in the garden by maintaining good cleanliness and hygiene. Avoid growing cruciferous veggies in a row and stay away from cruciferous weeds. Bacteria are often preserved in the latter.
Yellowish leaves that wilt during the day and arch up slightly at night may be caused by clubroot. The roots might twist and bulge, stunting the plant’s development.
Unfortunately, there is no effective cure for this fungal infection. The only options are quite expensive. It may stay for a long period in the soil, and crop rotation is ineffectual as well. Clubroot may be largely avoided by buying only certified seeds and transplanting only from sterilized fields.
Soft rot, downy mildew, and white leaf spot are just a few of the frequent fungal and bacterial illnesses. Learn more about illnesses and problems that afflict bok choy and other Asian veggies by visiting this website.
Pests
Cabbage loopers are little caterpillars with white stripes running down their sides. They feed via tiny holes in the leaf and deposit white or green eggs at the leaf border on the bottom surface.
If the larvae become too troublesome, they may be hand-picked. Another option is to use a biological insecticide called Bacillus thuringiensis to solve the problem. This natural adversary eats the cabbage looper’s younger larvae. Chemical sprays should only be used with utmost caution and only when absolutely necessary.
This pest’s older larvae normally remain on the underside of the leaf, where they make shotholes. The younger ones consume food from both the top and bottom surfaces. Their legs assume a distinctive V-shape at the back end, and they dangle on silk threads if the leaf is disturbed.
Bacillus thuringiensis, a natural insecticide, may also be used to treat diamondback moths. Only apply chemical pesticides if the leaf tips are being damaged.
Cabbage maggots, flea beetles, and aphids are just a few of the prevalent pests.
Conclusion
Our fantastic plant ticks all the boxes as the ideal candidate for your garden, so use this guide to help you plant bok choy.
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Bok Choy is a vegetable that can be grown in many different climates. The “bok choy growing temperature” will help you know what to expect.
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