If you haven’t tried to grow Bok Choy you should give it a whorl! This is an excellent tasting vegetable. Bok choy, also known as pac choi, is a cool season vegetable that can be grown in both spring and fall in Kansas. The vase-shaped plants have thick crunchy stems and spoon shaped leaves. The crunchy stems can be eaten like celery, and the young leaves are often used fresh in salad mixes.
Variety considerations. You can find varieties that have green or white stems and green or red leaves. Variety options also range from 4 to 6 inches tall to 15 to 18 inches tall. Varieties that have good heat tolerance or bolt resistance would be good choices.
When to plant. Bok choy can be direct seeded or transplanted. Transplanting allows for an earlier harvest and mitigates the impact of hot temperatures, especially in the fall. Plant seeds or set plants in the garden in late March to early April, before the danger of frost has passed. Plant fall plants in early August or direct seed in late July.
Spacing. Depending on the variety, bok choy should be spaced between 4 and 12 inches apart to allow for full size head development. If planting from seed, thin seedlings to the desired spacing and use the seedlings for salads.
Crop rotation. If possible in your garden space, do not plant bok choy in an area where turnips, mustards, kale, cabbages, or other leafy greens have been planted in the previous 3 to 4 years.
Care. Bok choy requires consistent moisture and temperature for a good quality crop. If temperatures fluctuate, the plant is more likely to bolt, especially in the spring. You can use clean straw mulch to help maintain even soil moisture and temperature around the plants. If insects are a problem, try using a row cover to protect the plants.
Harvesting. It can be harvested young for salad greens or harvested at full size for cooking. If harvesting leaves, remove the oldest, outermost leaves first, cutting the stalk near the base of the plant. If harvesting the whole plant, cut below the main rosette of leaves, just at the soil level.
