How to grow choy sum in a raised bed

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 should I plant choy sum?

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 garden calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): February to June
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): February to April and September to November
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): October to February
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): April to July
• Arid inland: March to April and August to September

How do I grow choy sum 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.

How often should I water and feed choy sum?

Keep the mix evenly moist for sweet, tender stems; a light steady feed keeps it producing.

What pests attack choy sum?

Keep an eye out for caterpillars and aphids. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

What diseases affect choy sum?

The main ones are downy mildew. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

What grows well with choy sum?

Slots in happily among other Asian greens and fast crops. See our companion planting guide.

When do I harvest choy sum?

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 garden 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: Earth100, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.