Bok choy quickly became one of my favorite veggies to grow—crisp, fast, and surprisingly generous. The first time I grew it, I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get more than one harvest from the same plant.
It’s the kind of crop that keeps on giving, and I’m all for that. Even if you’re just getting started, it doesn’t take much to grow a great batch.
Here’s how I grow mine in 15 simple steps—and keep the greens coming!
1. Choose the Right Variety
Baby bok choy varieties mature quickly and take up less garden space than their full-sized cousins. Look for varieties like ‘Mei Qing Choi’ for tender leaves or ‘Prize Choy’ for excellent cold tolerance.
Traditional varieties like ‘White Stem’ produce larger heads with crisp white stalks and deep green leaves. Consider your growing season length and available space when selecting seeds for best results.
2. Time Your Planting
Spring and fall are ideal seasons for planting this cool-weather crop. Start seeds indoors 4-5 weeks before your last spring frost date for an early summer harvest. For fall crops, direct sow in late summer when temperatures begin to cool.
Avoid midsummer plantings as hot weather causes bok choy to bolt quickly, producing bitter leaves and flowers instead of the tender greens you want for your table.
3. Prepare Rich Soil
Well-draining, fertile soil creates the foundation for healthy bok choy plants. Work in plenty of compost or aged manure to a depth of 8-10 inches before planting to provide essential nutrients and improve soil structure.
Aim for a slightly acidic to neutral pH between 6.0-7.0 for optimal growth. A soil test can help determine if you need to adjust your garden bed with lime or sulfur before planting.
4. Start Seeds Properly
Sow seeds just ¼ inch deep in seed-starting mix, spacing them about an inch apart. Bok choy seeds germinate quickly, usually within 4-7 days when kept consistently moist and at temperatures between 70-75°F.
After germination, provide bright light from a sunny window or grow lights to prevent seedlings from becoming leggy. Once seedlings develop their first true leaves, thin them to prevent overcrowding and allow proper growth.
5. Space Plants Correctly
Proper spacing ensures each plant receives adequate light, nutrients, and air circulation. For baby varieties, space plants 6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. Full-sized varieties need more room—about 10-12 inches between plants.
Consider using a square foot gardening method for small spaces, planting 4 baby bok choy per square foot. Good spacing prevents disease issues and allows each plant to develop fully formed, healthy heads.
6. Water Consistently
Consistent moisture is crucial for developing tender, flavorful leaves. Provide about 1-1.5 inches of water weekly, adjusting for rainfall. Morning watering helps leaves dry before evening, reducing disease risk.
Mulching around plants with straw or compost helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Watch for signs of water stress—wilting during the day that doesn’t recover by evening means your plants need more frequent watering.
7. Provide Partial Shade
While bok choy needs plenty of light, it benefits from afternoon shade in warmer regions. This partial protection prevents bolt-triggering heat stress and keeps leaves tender. Consider planting on the east side of taller crops like corn or tomatoes.
Shade cloth providing 30-40% shade works well during warmer periods. In cooler climates, full sun placement is fine during spring and fall, when temperatures naturally remain moderate.
8. Apply Balanced Fertilizer
Feed your plants with a balanced organic fertilizer (like 5-5-5) when they’re about 3 inches tall. Liquid fish emulsion or compost tea works wonderfully as a gentle boost, encouraging leafy growth without burning young roots.
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that promote excessive leaf growth at the expense of overall plant health. A light side-dressing of compost midway through the growing season provides sustained nutrients for continuous harvests.
9. Control Pests Naturally
Floating row covers create a physical barrier against common pests like flea beetles and cabbage worms while still allowing light and water through. Remove covers during flowering if you want pollinators to visit nearby plants.
Companion planting with aromatic herbs like thyme, mint, or dill helps repel many insect pests. For active infestations, try a mild soap spray (1 tablespoon dish soap per gallon of water) applied to leaf undersides where pests hide.
10. Watch for Bolting Signs
Keep an eye out for the central stem elongating or flower buds forming—these are the first signs of bolting. Harvest immediately if you notice these changes, as leaves quickly become bitter once flowering begins.
Providing consistent moisture and some afternoon shade helps delay bolting. Consider succession planting every 2-3 weeks during the growing season to ensure you always have non-bolting plants ready for harvest.
11. Harvest Outer Leaves
For multiple harvests, pick outer leaves when they reach 4-6 inches tall, leaving the central growth point intact. Simply snap or cut leaves at the base where they meet the main stem. This “cut-and-come-again” method stimulates new growth.
Morning harvesting yields the crispest texture and best flavor when plants are fully hydrated. With regular harvesting of outer leaves, a single plant can produce for several weeks or even months in ideal conditions.
12. Whole Plant Harvesting
For baby bok choy, harvest the entire plant when it reaches 6-8 inches tall by cutting just above soil level. Full-sized varieties can be harvested when they form a dense head, typically 8-12 inches tall.
Leave a 1-inch stub above the soil when cutting the whole plant for possible regrowth. Under favorable conditions with adequate moisture and nutrients, many plants will produce a second, smaller harvest from the same root system.
13. Store Properly
Fresh bok choy stays crisp longest when stored unwashed in the refrigerator crisper drawer. Wrap loosely in a damp paper towel inside a perforated plastic bag to maintain humidity without causing rot.
Properly stored bok choy keeps for 3-5 days before quality declines. For longer storage, blanch leaves for 2 minutes in boiling water, plunge into ice water, drain well, and freeze in airtight containers for up to 10 months.
14. Save Seeds
Allow a few healthy plants to bolt and flower completely. Small yellow flowers will develop into seed pods that turn brown when mature. Collect pods when dry but before they split open and release seeds.
Dry pods further indoors, then crush gently to release the small round seeds. Store in a labeled paper envelope in a cool, dry place. Properly stored bok choy seeds remain viable for 3-5 years for future plantings.
15. Practice Crop Rotation
Avoid planting bok choy in the same location where cabbage family crops (broccoli, kale, cabbage) grew in the previous 2-3 years. This prevents buildup of soil-borne diseases and pests that specifically target these related plants.
Rotating with unrelated crops like beans, peas, or corn helps break pest cycles and balances soil nutrients. Keep a simple garden map each season to track where different plant families have been grown.