Planting and care
How to grow bok choy
When to grow
Cool season · Annual
How to start
Seed or transplant
Mature size
8–18 in, cultivar-dependent
Time to harvest
Baby types: 30–40 days from seed; full-size heads: 45–60 days.
Feeding needs
Moderate feeder
Growth habit
Compact Brassica
How to prune
Remove damaged outer leaves only. Avoid cutting the central growing point until whole-head harvest; pull plants that bolt.
How to harvest
Cut the whole head at soil level while stems are crisp and before a flower stalk develops. Outer leaves may be picked individually for a small earlier harvest.
Harvest and kitchen use
Stir-fries, soups, steaming and fresh baby leaves
Nutrition and garden value
Vitamins A, C and K
Fast, compact cool-season crop
Common challenges and troubleshooting
Flea beetles, cabbage worms, slugs and bolting