Pak Choi

Fast-growing Asian greens with crisp stems and tender leaves. Ready in as little as 4–6 weeks from sowing. Perfect for spring and autumn gaps when other crops are slow.

Written by Yemi · Last reviewed August 2026

Maturing this month

First sprouts in 4–7 days

Difficulty

Pak Choi should be ready to harvest this month. Check for size and colour.

Growing Calendar

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sow

Transplant

Harvest

This month: Sep

Log to journal

Ready to harvest now

•Check size and ripeness
•Harvest regularly
•Store or use fresh

Sowing Guide

What you'd find on the seed packet

Sow Depth

5mm

Spacing

20–30cm

Germination

4–7days

Thinning

Thin to 20cm apart for full heads, or 10cm for cut-and-come-again harvesting

Grower's Note

One of the fastest crops in the garden. Spring sowings under cover can be ready from April. Autumn sowings from July–August give a reliable harvest before the first hard frosts.

Recommended Varieties

'Summer Breeze' holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit and rarely bolts even in a hot summer. 'Glacier' also holds an AGM and is the more flexible choice, bred to resist bolting in heat while still tolerating cold, so it works across a longer sowing window. For organic growing, The Organic Gardening Catalogue lists 'Tai Sai' as an open-pollinated organic alternative, vigorous and well suited to a spring sowing.

Planting Out Guide

Best spaces, conditions and how to plant out

Plant Spacing

20–25cm

Best Grown In

Raised beds, containers, open ground

Conditions

Sun or partial shade. Fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Ideal for spring and autumn planting: bolts in high summer heat.

Grower's Note

Water at the base to reduce slug damage and disease. Fast-growing: baby leaves can be harvested in as little as 4–5 weeks.

Growing Stages

Approximate weeks from sowing to harvest

Sprouting

1wks

Seeds germinate and first leaves emerge. Keep warm and moist.

Establishing

2wks

Root system develops and plant builds structure. Pot on if needed.

Maturing

4wks

Plant reaches full size and begins producing. Harvest at peak.

Total~7 weeksfrom seed to harvest

Companion Plants

Plant these nearby for natural pest control, better yields, and healthier soil.

Lettuce

Suppresses Weeds

Lettuce's low, spreading growth works as a living mulch, shading out weeds around Pak Choi.

Spinach

Suppresses Weeds

Spinach's dense, low growth works as a living mulch, shading out weeds around Pak Choi.

Radish

Repels Pests

Radish works as a trap crop for flea beetle, pulling their attention away from Pak Choi.

Chives

Repels Pests

Chives' oniony scent masks the smell pests use to find Pak Choi, and can help reduce fungal spotting too.

Nasturtium

Repels Pests

Nasturtium acts as a sacrificial trap crop, drawing aphids and cabbage white caterpillars away from your Pak Choi.

Climate Control

Today

—C

Humidity

—%

Water

Every 2–3 days

Sunlight

3–6 hours sun

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

Pests & Problems

Full guide

Flea Beetle

Tiny round holes in seedling leaves

Apr–Jun

Slugs

Holes in young leaves

Mar–Oct

Cabbage White Butterfly

Pale yellow eggs on leaf undersides

Apr–Oct

What You'll Need

Equipment for growing pak choi

Modular Seed Tray

96-cell for precision sowing

Fine Rose Watering Can

Gentle shower for seedlings

Bamboo Canes

Pack of 20 × 120cm

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Grown Organically

Every method in this guide works with natural systems: no synthetic chemicals, no shortcuts.

Read our approach

Common 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.

Written from real growing experience, not just research. Read the story behind Pelham Gardens.

Member guides

There's more to growing Pak Choi than this guide covers.

A Garden Journal to log what worked, a personalised sowing planner in My Garden, and monthly reminders timed to the calendar.

See what's included