Pak Choi cultivation in the garden

Growing pak choi in your own garden: We present suitable varieties and give tips and tricks from sowing, through care and fertilization, to harvest.

Pak choi (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) has a lot in common with optically Stalked chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris), but belongs to the cabbage family (Brassicaceae). As Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) the Pak Choi also comes from East Asia. This has given him the name “Chinese chard” or “Chinese mustard” in English. The largest cultivation areas in the world are also located in Asia. In Europe, this healthy variety of cabbage is grown on a larger scale in Dutch greenhouses all year round. In summer, this unusual vegetable can also be found out in the open in the fields of vegetable growers. The main differences between the different types are in size, shape and color. In our article too Pak Choi varieties you will find an overview of the best variants for growing at home. As it grows, the leaves of the cabbage plant gradually form a circular rosette. For most types of cabbage, woody stems and coarse foliage are disposed of before cooking or used as rabbit feed. The tender, juicy Pak Choi, on the other hand, is almost completely suitable for consumption.

Pak Choi cultivation: planting and site conditions

The Pak Choi also thrives very well in our latitudes, it grows quickly and is ready for harvest after six to eight weeks. A distinction is made between direct sowing and planting young plants. In the following you will learn everything about the site conditions and the planting of Pak Choi.

The ideal location for Pak Choi

Just like the Chinese cabbage, the pak choi prefers a sandy loam soil that is loose and easy to root and that stores moisture well. The pak choi needs a lot of water and a mild climate to grow well. Carbonic hernia is a big problem with this Asian vegetable, so pak choi should never be grown directly after other cabbage plants. A varied crop rotation with many different types of vegetables is the best protection against diseases.

Pak Choi sowing and planting

From the beginning to the middle of July, Pak Choi is sown directly in the bed or the balcony box. The round seeds are placed half a centimeter to a centimeter deep in the earth. Our Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil Incidentally, it is ideal for Pak Choi, as its balanced nutrient content provides the Asian delicacies well in the beginning. The compost it contains also stores moisture for the thirsty plants in hot summer months. It should always be kept moist until germination. After about three weeks, the plants are separated at a distance of about 25 centimeters to give them enough space to grow.

Up until the end of July, young plants that have already been grown can also be planted in the ground. To do this, sowing must be carried out as early as the end of April. The young plants should either be grown in a protected place on the warm window sill or in the greenhouse. A distance of 25 x 25 centimeters should be observed when planting the pak choi. It is advisable to add some compost to the planting and to mulch the Pak Chois. It is important that there is always sufficient moisture available. Regular watering makes sense in midsummer.

Summary of planting pak choi:

In midsummer it is time to sow or plant pak choi. We have summarized everything important for you.

• From early to mid-July, direct sowing into the ground, up to 1 centimeter deep.
• After three weeks, separate the plants at a distance of 25 centimeters.
• Alternatively, set early young plants sown at the end of April at a distance of 25 x 25 centimeters by the end of July.

Suitable types of pak choi for growing in the garden

The Mini Pak Choi varieties are particularly suitable for cultivation in the garden or in the balcony box, for example ‘Extra Dwarf‘Or the green-stemmed varieties‘ Mei Qing Choi ‘and‘ Hong Tae ‘, which can be harvested very quickly and produce quantities that are easy to process. Those who like to harvest larger pak choi can opt for the bulletproof varieties, such as ‘Joi Choi F1‘Or‘ Tai Sai ‘. Snap-resistant means that the plant will not flower and will instead produce a lot of leaves. When the temperature and weather fluctuates, the Pak Choi likes to start blooming and you rarely harvest juicy stems and leaves. Therefore, the bolt-resistant varieties are particularly worthwhile in the home garden. The red-leaved Pak Choi ‘Arax‘ with green stems is also a special eye-catcher. Further Pak Choi varieties can be found in our special article.

Harvest pak choi

Pak Choi can be harvested in any size, depending on the variety, the plants can weigh between 500 and 1500 grams. The Pak Choi rewards waiting with its rapid growth. Mini Pak Choi are harvested around 50 to 60 days after sowing, the larger varieties around 70 days after sowing. A Pak Choi sown in July can therefore be harvested at its maximum size in the middle to the end of September. You can harvest the entire plant at once or cut the leaves you need from the outside in, as needed.

Our tip: Freshly harvested whole pak choi can be wrapped in a moist wrap and stored in the refrigerator for a few days. If the plant is harvested completely with roots, the Pak Choi can be stored in the cellar for a few weeks.

Asian cuisine is trendy and extremely healthy, as a lot of vegetables are traditionally used. You can find out which Asian delicacies thrive in our latitudes in the article "Asian vegetables: These 8 types also grow here“.