Days To Maturity

Tatsoi – 21 days baby; 45 full size | Bok Choi – 30-50 days

Conditions - Soil, Sun, & Water

Full sun  | Well-drained soil amended with compost
Moderate and even water

Soil Temperature for Germination

75-80°F

Seed Ordering

250 seeds per 50' row  - sows 16' full-size 4' baby leaf.

Number of Seedings

Seed every 2 weeks throughout the season.

Bed Preparation

Recommended: UV silage tarp or cover applied for 2-3 weeks prior to planting. Use a rotary plow or garden hoe to build soil back up if bed has settled. To aerate the soil and encourage root development, use a broadfork or similar tool.

Fertilizer & Soil Amendments

Bok choy grows best when fertilized shortly after planting. Use fertilizer high in nitrogen when fertilizing bok choy, but if you’re planting in rich soil, you won’t need to use any fertilizer.

Transplant & Direct Seeding

For earlier crop, start transplants in nursery. Seeds can also be sown directly in the garden.

Spacing Between Plants & Rows

12 inches between plants, 10 inches between rows for full size heads.

For baby leaf (salad mixes) sow ~60 seeds/ft in a 2-4 inch wide band.

Supports & Row Coverings

Use plastic mulch or weed paper for row covering; Floating row covers in spring and anti-insect netting in the summer help keep pests under control.

Days to Germination

7 days

Bed & Crop Maintenance

The thick stems are juicy and sweet and need plenty of water to grow. Remove competitive weeds and till soil gently around the plants to increase oxygen levels for healthy root growth.

Disease & Pest Control

Slugs can be a problem, and we control them by hand or by using iron phosphate pellets. See the Row Covering section above for how to prevent flea beetles and cabbage caterpillars.

Improve Yield

If sown in the summer, bok choy has a tendency to bolt and the resulting leaves will be bitter

Tools

broadfork, collinear hoe

Sample Crop Rotation

Plant after legumes, and before light feeders

Suggested Companion Planting

May experience improved growth and health if you plant it near one or more of the following vegetables or herbs: beets, bush beans, carrots, chamomile, chard, cucumbers, dill, kale, lettuce, mint, nasturtiums, potatoes, sage and spinach