How to Plant and Grow Bok Choy Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
Bok choy (or pak choi), literally translated from Chinese, means “white vegetable,” but the irony is that only the stalks near the center of the plant are white.
The outer leaves are beautiful shades of light purple or green, and seem to open out like supporting ballerinas arching back to reveal the star of the show – the compact-headed, bulbous-bottomed central stalks and leaves.
Like good supporting dancers, those outer leaves are pretty, but everyone wants to get to the main act – the sweet, juicy center. Steam them, braise them, stir-fry, or cook them in soup, they’re delicious! Eat them raw and you’ll get a hint of cabbage with a mustardy piquancy.
We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Here’s how you can grow them in your own little vegetable patch.
What Is Bok Choy?
Sometimes referred to as “siu bak choy” (small white vegetable) so as not to confuse it with “dai bak choy” (big white vegetable – the napa cabbage) this cruciferous vegetable is a member of the Brassicaceae family.
Also referred to as pak choi, the variations of the name in English are derived from the phonetic translation of Chinese characters – the word choi or choy means “vegetable.” The bak, bok, or pak part means “white.”
Bok choy is a biennial plant that is usually grown as an annual. It thrives in the cool season in locations with temperatures between 55 and 70°F.
It doesn’t mind the odd light frost and can withstand slightly higher temperatures, so long as the soil is kept sufficiently moist. Certain heat-tolerant varieties are available to suit tropical environments – but it will not tolerate drought.
The website greengrove.cc is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
There is nothing like a big slab of juicy, tasty, meaty… tomato? That’s right, beefsteak tomato plants grow hefty fruits with pink, red, or orange flesh that taste great fresh, and fit perfectly on burgers or sandwiches.While growing beefsteak tomatoes is si
We all know what it’s like to come home from the grocery store and dig into the strawberries only to find them too bland, too tart, or too far gone.And when we get a nice, sweet, juicy batch we inhale them within a
From the gentle heat of a banana pepper to the searing, sinus-clearing pain of a ‘Carolina Reaper,’ there’s a hot pepper for everyone.We link to vendors to help you find relevant
The garden heliotrope, Heliotropium arborescens, is a tender shrubby perennial, or sub-shrub, of the borage family, with clusters of sweetly-scented blossoms in shades of purple, blue, or white.With a backdrop of dark green pleated leaves, plants bear a resembla
I think we can all agree: the world just wouldn’t be the same without garlic.This pungently potent vegetable is delightfully easy to grow. And as a natural pest and fungus
Since bok choy is suitable for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 11, just about anyone in the US can grow their own supply of the cruciferous leafy green.And don’t rule yourself out just beca
Do you love to grow your own herbs and spices to provide you with unique flavors for recipes and food creations? Try growing your own caraway!We link to vendors to help you find re
Lacking the sharpness of onion or the aromatic spice of garlic, the shallot somehow takes the best of both of those beloved alliums and blends them into one beautiful, sweet yet savory flavor.This unassuming bulb is used in a variety of cuisines around the world.
Are you looking for a compact and reliable annual to add some bright splashes of color throughout the garden, even in the cool or shady spots?An old-fashioned charmer, garden lobelia fits th
Get ready to meet a plant that is a true delight to the senses. Scented geraniums taste delicious, smell wonderful, and they look pretty in the garden. They’re truly multi-talented ornamentals.Also called rose geraniums, sweet geraniums, or old f