Other names
celery cabbage, napa cabbage, pe-tsai, wombok
Botanical name
Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis
Family / Genus
Brassicaceae / Brassica
Plant category
Cabbage vegetables
Even though you might read otherwise now and then – Chinese cabbage is a bit of a diva to grow and better suited for more experienced gardeners. At the slightest thing it doesn't like, it bolts straight away.
Facts and figures
Light requirements
Sun / partial shade
Nutrient requirements
Heavy feeder
Difficulty level
Expert
Culture (according to Gertrud Franck)
B - late
Culture (according to Sister C. Weinrich)
Companion crop
Growing period
70 days
Row spacing
40 cm
Plant spacing
50 cm
Sowing depth
2 cm
Germination temperature (minimum)
12 °C
Germination temperature (optimal)
18 - 22 °C
Germination type
Light and dark
Pre-growing period
30 days
Planting & harvest times of Chinese cabbage
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Direct sowing
Pre-grow
Transplant
Harvest
Direct sowing from Mid June to Early August. Transplant to bed from Mid July to Late August. Pre-grow about 30 days before transplanting, approximately between Mid June and Late July. After a growing period of 70 days, harvest can begin around Late August and continues until Late October.
Sow and plant Chinese cabbage
It prefers cooler conditions. Don't try growing Chinese cabbage too early in the year. It won't work. It'll bolt immediately.
Good and bad companions of Chinese cabbage
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
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Radish
Chinese cabbage 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, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Predecessors and successors of Chinese cabbage
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
Heavy feeders thrive in loose, nutrient-rich soil
Lasting effect: 2 years
Bad predecessors
Garden cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Horseradish
Rotation break: 3 years
Mizuna (Asian greens)
Rotation break: 3 years
Rocket
important for large-scale cultivation.
negligible for strip cultivation of rocket.
Rotation break: 3 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
Black kale
Rotation break: 4 years
Broccoli
Chinese cabbage 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
Chinese cabbage 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
Flower Sprouts
Rotation break: 4 years
Kale
Chinese cabbage 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
Kohlrabi
Rotation break: 4 years
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
Pak choi
Rotation break: 4 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
Savoy cabbage
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
Winter rye helps to fix residual nitrogen, making it ideal for heavy feeders
Lasting effect: 1 year
Bad successors
Batavia lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Butterhead lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Carrot
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
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
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
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
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
Black kale
Rotation break: 4 years
Broccoli
Chinese cabbage 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
Chinese cabbage 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
Flower Sprouts
Rotation break: 4 years
Kale
Chinese cabbage 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
Kohlrabi
Rotation break: 4 years
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
Pak choi
Rotation break: 4 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
Savoy cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
White cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Care and fertilising
The plants need a very good and consistent supply of nutrients and water, as they grow incredibly fast. Otherwise they'll bolt quickly, meaning they go to flower.
Diseases and pests
Chinese cabbage, just like pak choi, attracts flea beetles and aphids like a magnet. 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
Black rot(low susceptibility)
Cabbage aphid
Cabbage moth
Cabbage root fly
Cabbage whitefly
Cabbage whites
Clubroot(high susceptibility, resistant varieties available)
Diamondback moth
Downy mildew of brassicas
Flea beetles(high susceptibility)
Swede midge
Harvest and processing
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