Pak Choi should be ready to harvest this month — check for size and colour.
Growing Calendar
This month: May
Log to journalReady to harvest now
- •Check size and ripeness
- •Harvest regularly
- •Store or use fresh
Watch Out For
Bolts quickly in heat and long days
avoid sowing from May to June; focus sowings on early spring and late summer for best results
Flea beetle peppers leaves with tiny holes
cover with insect mesh from sowing and keep plants well watered to grow quickly past the vulnerable stage
Slugs target young seedlings
protect with copper tape or grit, particularly after rain
Grown Organically
Every method in this guide works with natural systems — no synthetic chemicals, no shortcuts.
Read our approachCommon Questions
About growing Pak Choi in the UK
Why does my pak choi bolt?
Pak choi bolts (runs to seed) in response to hot temperatures, long days, or transplanting stress. To prevent bolting: sow in spring or autumn (avoiding the hottest months), keep plants well-watered, and choose bolt-resistant varieties for summer growing.
When is pak choi ready to harvest?
Harvest baby pak choi at 4–5 weeks when 10–15cm tall. Full-size heads are ready at 6–8 weeks when 20–30cm tall. Cut at the base with a knife, or harvest outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again approach with smaller plants.
Can pak choi be grown in containers?
Yes — pak choi grows well in containers at least 20cm deep. Sow densely and harvest as baby leaves in as little as 3 weeks, or thin to one plant per 25cm for full-size heads. Keep consistently moist as containers dry out quickly.
Does pak choi need a lot of fertiliser?
Pak choi is a fast-growing brassica that benefits from a fertile, moisture-retentive growing medium. A good compost provides sufficient nutrients for baby leaf harvests. For larger plants, a balanced liquid feed every 2–3 weeks keeps growth strong.
Member guides
There's more to growing Pak Choi than this guide covers.
Seasonal reminders, deeper guides, and the small adjustments that change a harvest.
