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Asian Greens / Brassica Greens · Cool-season greens

Pak Choi (White Stem)

White Stem

Fall
Pak Choi (White Stem) — Young Young
Seedling / just planted

Trays of Brassica rapa var. chinensis (pak choi) seedlings with just their first true leaves, growing in a hydroponic nursery.

Species-level pak choi seedling tray; not specific to a white-stem cultivar like 'Joi Choi', but the seedling stage looks the same across pak choi types.

Photo: Forest and Kim Starr· CC BY 3.0 us

Pak Choi (White Stem) — Growing Growing
Established, filling in

A half-grown pak choi plant with pale green-white stems and glossy spoon-shaped leaves, growing in a garden bed.

Generic white/pale-stem pak choi at half-grown size; species-level, not confirmed as a specific white-stem cultivar.

Photo: Trevor Partridge· CC BY-NC

Pak Choi (White Stem) — Full grown Full grown
What you’re aiming for

A full-size pak choi rosette with thick white stems and broad leaves, just beginning to send up a flower stalk.

Generic white-stem pak choi at full harvest size; species-level match, not confirmed as 'Joi Choi' or another named white-stem cultivar.

Photo: Jon Sullivan· CC BY

Growing stages

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

Pak Choi (White Stem) runs two seasons in Decatur's Zone 8a: a fall sowing in early-mid September that carries through the mild winter into a big harvest, and a shorter spring sowing in February-March that races the heat before bolting shuts it down.

  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 show the plant's spoon shape with thick, pale white midribs and dark green blades.

    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 a small vase-shaped rosette and thick white stem bases, 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 in beds or grow bags.

  4. 4

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

    Starting 25-30 days after sowing for baby leaves, or 45-50 days for a full vase-shaped head

    You'll see The rosette forms a vase of thick, crisp, celery-white stems topped with smooth dark green leaves, reaching 10-12 inches tall at full size.

    Do Harvest outer leaves as needed, or cut the whole head at the base once it fills out.

  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 middle of the rosette, leaves turn narrow and pointed, and small yellow four-petaled flowers cluster at the top.

    Do Harvest what you can before leaves turn bitter, then pull the plant or leave one to flower for pollinators and seed.

  6. 6

    Seed saving

    4-8 weeks after bolting, once seed pods dry from green to brown

    You'll see Flower stalks turn from yellow blooms to slim, brown, brittle pods that rattle with seed when dry.

    Do Cut dry seed stalks into a paper bag, finish drying, then crush and winnow to collect seed.

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.