How to grow pak choi

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You will need

Pak choi seeds

Small pots or cells

Seed compost

Fleece

Do it: summer

At its best: late-summer

Takes just: 30 minutes to sow the seeds

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Overview

If you enjoy the tangy taste of pak choi, then why not try growing some. It's easy to grow, but can be prone to bolting in hot weather so it's a good idea to grow it in partial shade and keep it well watered. Pak choi is hardier than many other leafy crops, so late sowings will crop in autumn and even winter, if given a little protection with a cloche or some fleece.

How to do it

Sow seed in moist compost in small pots or cells. You can also sow direct in the ground, but seedlings can be devoured by slugs. Thin out young seedlings to two per pot and keep them well watered.

When seedlings are 5cm tall, plant them out into a moisture-retentive soil, firming in well. Water the newly transplanted plants well, to encourage the roots to settle.

Covering the pack choi seedlings with fleece

Keep the plants well watered to prevent them from bolting. Cover the crop with horticultural fleece to provide a barrier to airborne pests, such as flea beetles.

You can harvest the young leaves after 30 days, to add to salads. From 45 days, the plants should have developed a 'heart' and be ready to harvest for stir fries. Pak choi is most succulent and has the best flavour when eaten fresh from the plot, so only harvest what you need, when you need it.