Choy sum is grown for its sweet flowering stems and tender leaves, picked just as the little yellow buds appear — a fast, mild Asian green that keeps giving if you keep picking.
Quick facts
- Position: full sun to part shade
- Spacing: 15–20 cm apart
- Tub depth: our 23 cm or 35 cm depth
- Time to harvest: 6–8 weeks
When to plant: Choy sum grows nearly year-round in warm areas, best in the cooler months. Sow a short row every few weeks for a steady supply. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.
Growing them in a raised bed: Sow directly or plant seedlings into rich, moist mix. A brassica, so netting helps with cabbage whites. Pick the central flowering stem and it'll push out more side shoots.
Watering and feeding: Keep the mix evenly moist for sweet, tender stems; a light steady feed keeps it producing.
Common pests: keep an eye out for caterpillars and aphids. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.
Common diseases: the main ones are downy mildew. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.
Companion plants: Slots in happily among other Asian greens and fast crops. See our companion planting guide.
Harvest and storage: Cut the flowering stems just as the buds show and before the flowers open — that's when they're sweetest. Keep cutting and the plant keeps giving.
More growing guides: gai lan, pak choy and cabbage.
Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.
Image: Ceeseven, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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