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Asian Greens / Brassica Greens · Cool-season greens

Purple Lady Bok Choy

Gardyn

SpringFall
Purple Lady Bok Choy — Young Young
Seedling / just planted

Purple/red pak choi seedlings in a nursery tray, labeled 'PAK CHOI', leaves just starting to show red-purple tint.

Generic red/purple pak choi seedling; not verified as the 'Purple Lady' cultivar specifically.

Photo: Victoria Grima at V's Plug Plants· CC BY-SA 3.0

Purple Lady Bok Choy — Growing Growing
Established, filling in

A handful of harvested young purple-stemmed pak choi plants with green leaves and vivid magenta-purple petioles.

Labeled 'Petsay with purple stems' (Brassica rapa, Chinensis group) -- a generic purple-stemmed pak choi, not confirmed as 'Purple Lady'.

Photo: Judgefloro· CC0

Purple Lady Bok Choy — Full grown Full grown
What you’re aiming for

Close-up of full-size purple pak choi stalks bunched together, showing well-developed magenta-purple petioles and broad green leaves.

Generic purple-stemmed pak choi at harvest size; species/type-level match, not confirmed as 'Purple Lady' cultivar.

Photo: Judgefloro· CC0

Growing stages

What to look for, and what to do, at each point in its life

Purple Lady Bok Choy, an F1 hybrid prized for its deep purple leaves, runs two seasons in Decatur's Zone 8a: a fall sowing in early-mid September that carries through winter into a big harvest, and a shorter spring sowing in February-March before summer heat pushes it to bolt.

  1. 1

    Sowing

    Early-mid September (fall crop) or mid-February to early March (spring crop)

    You'll see Seeds are small, round, and reddish-brown, showing nothing above ground for 4-6 days.

    Do Direct sow 1/4 inch deep in beds, or start in cell trays for a head start; keep the soil surface damp until sprouting.

  2. 2

    Seedling

    Days 4-16 after sowing

    You'll see Round seed leaves appear first, then true leaves emerge already showing purple pigment on the leaf tops, with green undersides marked by purple veins.

    Do Thin direct-sown rows to 8-10 inches apart, and watch for flea beetle shot-holes.

  3. 3

    Transplant

    3-4 weeks after starting indoors, when seedlings have 2-3 true leaves

    You'll see Transplant-ready seedlings are compact, 2-3 inches tall, with purple-tinted leaves and a root ball that holds together when lifted.

    Do Harden off over 5-7 days, then set plants at the same depth they grew, spaced 8-10 inches apart.

  4. 4

    Cut-and-come-again or whole-plant harvest

    Starting 25-35 days after sowing for baby leaves, or 45-55 days for a full head

    You'll see Plants form a uniform vase shape 6-7 inches tall, with dark purple leaf tops, green petioles, and purple-veined leaf undersides.

    Do Harvest outer leaves as needed, or cut the whole head at the base once it reaches 6-7 inches.

  5. 5

    Bolting

    Late spring, typically May, once daylength lengthens and temperatures push past 75-80°F

    You'll see A central stalk shoots up from the rosette, leaves turn narrow and pointed, and small yellow flowers cluster at the top.

    Do Harvest what remains before leaves turn bitter, then pull the plant.

  6. 6

    Why this one isn't worth saving seed from

    N/A — skip seed saving for this variety

    You'll see If left to flower, Purple Lady produces the same small yellow Brassica flowers as any bok choy, eventually forming brown seed pods.

    Do Don't bother saving seed; buy fresh Purple Lady seed each season instead.

Techniques — transplant, prune, propagate, divide, seed

Sun

Full sun to part shade; cool weather.

Water

Consistent moisture.

Spacing

Hydro pods / tight in-ground spacing.

Feeding

Steady light feeding.

Care

  • Cool-season crops — spring and fall windows; they bolt in summer heat.
  • Wasabina mustard + tatsoi run permanently indoors in the 2nd hydro unit.
  • Giant Red + Southern Green mustard run outdoors in the wooden structure.

Harvest

Cut-and-come-again; harvest outer leaves.

Watch for

Bolting in heat; aphids/flea beetles.