Other names
bok choy, chinese white cabbage
Botanical name
Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
Family / Genus
Brassicaceae / Brassica
Plant category
Cabbage vegetables
The more well-known pak choi, sold as a stir-fry vegetable, also belongs to the Asian greens family. You can use it just as well as a baby-leaf addition to salads. Strictly speaking, these aren't actually salad plants but members of the brassica family, more precisely the leafy mustard greens. That explains their more or less piquant, mustardy flavour.
Facts and figures
Light requirements
Sun / partial shade
Nutrient requirements
Medium feeder
Difficulty level
Easy
Culture (according to Gertrud Franck)
C - low growth, short growing period
Culture (according to Sister C. Weinrich)
Companion crop
Growing period
60 days
Row spacing
20 cm
Plant spacing
20 cm
Growth height
40 - 60 cm
Sowing depth
1 cm
Germination temperature (minimum)
12 °C
Germination temperature (optimal)
18 - 25 °C
Germination type
Light
Pre-growing period
20 days
Planting & harvest times of Pak choi
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Direct sowing
Pre-grow
Transplant
Harvest
SpringDirect sowing from Mid March to Late March. Transplant to bed from Mid March to Mid April. Pre-grow about 20 days before transplanting, approximately between Mid February and Mid March. After a growing period of 60 days, harvest can begin around Mid April and continues until Mid June.
SummerDirect sowing from Mid July to Mid August. Transplant to bed from Mid July to Late August. Pre-grow about 20 days before transplanting, approximately between Late June and Early August. After a growing period of 60 days, harvest can begin around Mid August and continues until Late October.
Sow and plant Pak choi
You can grow the plants in rows as indicated. The spacing given is fairly generous to allow larger plants to develop. For baby-leaf salad growing, you can reduce the distances. Or broadcast sow on a weed-free bed.
In a greenhouse, year-round growing is possible.
Good and bad companions of Pak choi
Very good neighbours
Subterranean clover
Subterranean clover as an undersowing cut flea beetle damage by 66 percent in trials.
Good neighbours
Crimson clover
The clover's scent disrupts the orientation of cabbage root fly and cabbage white.
Lamb's lettuce
I have read conflicting information about companion planting with brassicas. Share your experiences.
Phacelia
Phacelia does not host brassica pathogens and lowers clubroot pressure on the plot.
White clover
Flowering white clover undersowing confuses the cabbage white and reduces egg laying.
Bad neighbours
Radish
Pak choi and radishes both strongly attract flea beetles. Side by side the damage increases, so sow them apart or use a net.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Predecessors and successors of Pak choi
If you only grow Asian greens in small strips alongside other crops, you can largely ignore crop rotation. If you dedicate whole beds to them, keep the usual 3-year break between them and other brassicas.
Good predecessors
Alfalfa
Lasting effect: 3 years
Berseem clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Buckwheat
Lasting effect: 3 years
Common vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Crimson clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Hairy vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Lupin
Lasting effect: 3 years
Oats
Lasting effect: 3 years
Persian clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Phacelia
Phacelia does not host brassica pathogens and lowers clubroot pressure on the plot.
Lasting effect: 3 years
Red clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Sainfoin
Lasting effect: 3 years
Soya bean
Lasting effect: 3 years
Subterranean clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Sunflower
Cabbage benefits from the deep loosening but also hosts white mould. Avoid where the disease is known on the plot.
Lasting effect: 3 years
White clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Winter rye
Rye and ryegrass demonstrably reduce clubroot in the following crop.
Lasting effect: 3 years
Bad predecessors
Black kale
Rotation break: 4 years
Flower Sprouts
Rotation break: 4 years
Garden cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Horseradish
Rotation break: 3 years
Kohlrabi
Rotation break: 4 years
Mizuna (Asian greens)
Rotation break: 3 years
Pak choi
Rotation break: 4 years
Pointed cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Rocket
important for large-scale cultivation.
negligible for strip cultivation of rocket.
Rotation break: 3 years
Savoy cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Spinach
Spinach itself is undamaged but multiplies beet cyst nematode strongly. Brassicas and beets suffer from it.
Rotation break: 3 years
Swede
Rotation break: 3 years
Turnip
Rotation break: 3 years
Winter cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Very bad predecessors
Broccoli
Pak choi is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot, cabbage root fly and swede midge with broccoli. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Brussels sprouts
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Cauliflower
Pak choi is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot and cabbage root fly with cauliflower. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Chinese cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Kale
Pak choi is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot and cabbage root fly with kale. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Oil radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Red cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Romanesco
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
White cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Good successors
Alfalfa
Lasting effect: 3 years
Berseem clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Common vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Crimson clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Hairy vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Persian clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Phacelia
Lasting effect: 3 years
Red clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Subterranean clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
White clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Winter rye
Lasting effect: 3 years
Bad successors
Batavia lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Black kale
Rotation break: 4 years
Butterhead lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Cucumber
Cabbage is considered a poor preceding crop for cucumbers. Legumes, leeks, celery or a green manure suit them better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Flower Sprouts
Rotation break: 4 years
Garden cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Honeydew melon
Cabbage is considered a poor preceding crop for honeydew melons. Legumes, leeks, celery or a green manure with clover suit them better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Horseradish
Rotation break: 3 years
Iceberg lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Kohlrabi
Rotation break: 4 years
Lollo biando / Lollo rosso
Rotation break: 3 years
Melothria
Cabbage, tomatoes and sweet peppers are heavy feeders and are considered a poor previous crop for Melothria. Legumes, leeks, celery or lettuce suit it better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Mizuna (Asian greens)
Rotation break: 3 years
Oak leaf lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Pak choi
Rotation break: 4 years
Radish
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Rocket
important for large-scale cultivation.
negligible for strip cultivation of rocket.
Rotation break: 3 years
Romaine lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Sainfoin
High residual nitrogen suppresses nodulation. Weak-competing sainfoin is then overgrown by weeds.
Rotation break: 3 years
Savoy cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Swede
Rotation break: 3 years
Turnip
Rotation break: 3 years
Watermelon
Cabbage is considered a poor preceding crop for watermelons. Legumes, leeks, celery or a green manure with clover suit them better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Winter cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Very bad successors
Broccoli
Pak choi is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot, cabbage root fly and swede midge with broccoli. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Brussels sprouts
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Cauliflower
Pak choi is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot and cabbage root fly with cauliflower. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Chinese cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Kale
Pak choi is closely related to cabbage and shares clubroot and cabbage root fly with kale. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Oil radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Pointed cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Red cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Romanesco
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
White cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Diseases and pests
Pak choi attracts flea beetles and aphids like a magnet, just like Chinese cabbage. Both are susceptible to clubroot, Alternaria and Phoma. You're better off growing them under a protective net.
Susceptible to
Alternaria leaf spot of brassicas
Cabbage aphid
Cabbage moth
Cabbage root fly
Cabbage whitefly
Cabbage whites
Clubroot
Diamondback moth
Downy mildew of brassicas
Flea beetles(high susceptibility)
Swede midge
Harvest and processing
You can harvest the leaves young as baby-leaf or let them grow bigger for stir-fry dishes, for example. Even when they flower, the leaves stay tasty. Just avoid the tough flower stalks.
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