Chinese Cabbage (Pe-tsai or Won Bok or Nappa), AND
Chinese Mustard (Bok Choy, Pak Choi)
Both of these vegetable groups are crucifies, related to cabbage and broccoli. The mild flavor of Chinese cabbage is more like that of lettuce than that of cabbage. Both are cool season crops. A spring crop can be grown from transplants set out in early spring. . Well-drained, fertile, moist soil promotes the desirable rapid tender growth. All varieties of Chinese cabbage will do very well in a container.
The most common form of Chinese cabbage has a cylindrical tight head 4 inches thick and up to 18 inches long. Outer leaves are light green with a white midrib; inner leaves are creamy yellow. Chinese mustard has a loose head and rosette of dark green leaves which are oblong or oval with shiny dark green blades and thick white petioles.
PLANTING CHINESE CABBAGE
You can grow Chinese cabbage from seed or from transplants. Seeds are sold locally and by mail order. While the size of different varieties varies, you can plan on getting about 8 heads of Chinese cabbage in a 10 foot row.
Spring crop planting…
For a spring crop, start seed in March in an protected area (under a cold frame) or indoors under lights. When plants are three to four inches tall, set them out. Be ready to cover them with fleece if you expect freezing temperatures over night. It takes six to seven weeks from seeding time to begin to harvest. The heads are ready to pick when they are firm. For home use, plant double rows so heads are 2 to 3 pounds. If spaced wider, they can reach 10 to 12 pounds.
Fall crop planting…
For the fall crop, sow Chinese cabbage seed 60 to 80 days before estimated first frost date and 50 to 60 days before frost for Chinese mustard. Treat Chinese cabbage like lettuce or regular cabbage, spacing heads one foot apart for larger heads and 10 inches apart for smaller heads. Fertilization, weed control and pest control are the same as for cabbage or lettuce.
CARING FOR CHINESE CABBAGE
Month of February Chinese cabbage can be grown as a late winter and early spring vegetable. If planted too late in the spring, the heads often "bolt" or send up a flower stalk before they head up. You can grow Chinese cabbage from seed or from transplants.
Month of March For a spring crop, buy transplants from the garden center or start seed in March indoors where they will get plenty of light. When plants are three to four inches tall, set them out, about 12 inches apart; they can handle frost. Add some slow release granular fertilizer to soil in preparing for planting.
Month of April Chinese Cabbage grow best when mulched with 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch. The heads are ready to pick when they are firm.
Month of August Optional Fall Planting - Plant seeds directly in late August through October for a late fall and early winter crop. For the fall crop, sow Chinese cabbage seed 60 to 80 days before frost date and 50 to 60 days before frost for Chinese mustard. Treat Chinese cabbage like lettuce or regular cabbage, spacing heads one foot apart for larger heads and 10 inches apart for smaller heads. Add some slow release granular fertilizer to the soil when preparing for planting.
Optional – Fall Chinese Cabbage grows best when well mulched with 2 to 3 inches of organic material. Shade cloth rigged over the plants during August and September produces a better crop.
SOLVING CHINESE CABBAGE PROBLEMS
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Symptoms
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Probable Causes |
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White butterflies; ragged holes in leaves, bit of green excrement on leaves |
Cabbage Worms |
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Holes in leaves |
Cabbage Loopers |
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Young plant severed at soil |
Cutworms |
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Leaves wrinkled or curled; discolored, stunted, tend to fall off |
Aphids |
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White powder on leaf undersides; foliage wilts |
Downy Mildew, A Fungal Disease |
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Plant chewed to soil |
Rabbits or Woodchucks
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HARVEST AND COOKING CHINESE CABBAGE
Selection. Quality is clean, crisp leaves and firm heads with no browning or spots on leaves. With bok choy, check center of the rosette to be sure it is free of decay. Wash, place head in plastic bag and refrigerate. Optimum storage conditions are 32o F. and 95 percent relative humidity.
Wrap harvested heads in plastic and they'll last several weeks in the refrigerator.
COOKING WITH CHINESE CABBAGE
Great for salads or slaw…
Chinese cabbage can be used as lettuce, but it's also good in slaw. It's good shredded and cooked, too. Begin cooking the white midrib, then add leaf blades after the midribs have cooked a little. You might want to make relish sticks from raw midribs. Chinese cabbage is low in calories and good source of vitamin C.
