Pak choy is the quick, glossy Asian green that's almost impossible to fail — sow it, and you'll be stir-frying your own in a matter of weeks. Perfect for a raised bed and a busy kitchen.
Quick facts
- Position: full sun to part shade
- Spacing: 20 cm apart
- Tub depth: our 23 cm or 35 cm depth
- Time to harvest: 6–9 weeks
When to plant: Pak choy grows nearly year-round in warm areas but is happiest in the cool — sow autumn to spring, as summer heat makes it bolt. Sow a fresh patch every few weeks. 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. It's a brassica, so netting keeps the cabbage whites off — and being fast, it's out of the ground before many pests catch up.
Watering and feeding: Keep the mix evenly moist for tender, unstressed leaves — a dry check makes it bolt straight to flower.
Common pests: keep an eye out for caterpillars, aphids and slugs and snails. 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: A great fast filler between slower crops; grows well alongside other Asian greens. See our companion planting guide.
Harvest and storage: Harvest the whole plant at the base while young and tender, or pick outer leaves as you need them. Use it fresh — it wilts fast.
More growing guides: wombok, choy sum and gai lan.
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: Schlaghecken Josef, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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