How to grow Bok Choy
in the US

Bok Choy, sometimes called Pak Choi, is a cracking choice for any gardener, especially if you're after something quick and easy. It's a lovely leafy green that brings a proper fresh taste to your cooking, like those stir-fries you see. It doesn't take up much room and fills gaps on the plot really well.

Sowing

Being a cool season crop, Bok Choy does best when you sow it in spring or fall, dodging the hottest summer months. Check your USDA zone for the best spring and fall sowing times; generally, you'll start a few weeks before your last frost in spring, and again in late summer for a fall crop. You can sow seeds direct into the ground or start them indoors in trays about half an inch deep. Give them a bit of space, aiming for about 6 to 12 inches between plants once they're settled. For a steady supply, sow a small batch every two or three weeks, that's what I do.

Growing on

If you've started your Bok Choy indoors, you'll want to prick out the seedlings gently into individual cells once they're big enough to handle. Before planting them out into the garden, make sure to harden them off for about a week, giving them a taste of the outdoors. Plant them out once the risk of your last frost has passed for spring crops, or when the heat of summer starts to ease for fall crops, keeping that 6 to 12-inch spacing. They're quite happy in containers too, if you're a bit short on ground space.

Looking after it

Bok Choy likes a consistently moist soil, so keep an eye on them, especially during dry spells, and give them a good drink when needed. They aren't particularly heavy feeders, but a bit of compost worked into the soil before planting never hurts. A good layer of mulch around the plants will help keep that moisture in and stop those pesky weeds from taking over.

What goes wrong

To be honest, the main things that cause bother are cabbage worms, aphids, and slugs. Those cabbage worms can chew through the leaves proper quick, so a row cover placed over your plants is a simple way to keep them off. Aphids can be dealt with by a strong spray of water. Slugs, well, hand-picking them or setting out some traps is usually the best bet. Marigolds and nasturtiums planted nearby can help too.

Harvest

You'll be harvesting your Bok Choy pretty quickly, often in about 45 days from sowing, which is cracking. You can either pick the outer leaves as you need them, letting the plant continue to grow, or harvest the whole head by cutting it at ground level. For storing, pop it in a plastic bag in the fridge, where it'll keep fresh for a good week or so. It's great in stir-fries, like I say, or even just lightly steamed.