Organic White Stem Pac Choi Seeds

Pac Choi, also known as pak choi and bok choy, is a traditional Chinese leaf cabbage popular in Asian cooking. This hardy, cold-tolerant crop has a slight mustard flavor. From its white, juicy stems to its nutritious green leaves, it’s no wonder that pac choi is a must-have in the kitchen.

Planting by Zones

Zones 9-10

• Pac Choi is a cool-season crop for Zones 9 and 10. It should be started from seed in the fall and transplanted out. It is best grown in the cooler temperatures of fall through spring. 

Zones 2-8

• Seeds can be started in summer and planted out as a fall crop. Make sure you note the days to maturity and guarantee that your crop will mature before a hard freeze. Providing additional protection, like row cover, can extend the season. Start seeds again in early spring, after the threat of frost has passed.

Planting Pac Choi Seeds

• Pac Choi seeds are best planted in starter pots and transplanted out.
• When you start seeds for a fall planting in Zones 9 and 10, you will want to start your seeds in a cool environment. This can be indoors, under the shade of a tree, in a cooled greenhouse, or in a shade house. Transplants will not thrive in high temperatures. We recommend you find the coolest area of your garden and construct a temporary shade house using our shade cloth to keep your transplants healthy until it is cool enough to transplant them out.
• When planting your seeds, plant them on the top of thoroughly moistened, high-quality seed starting soil. Cover the seeds with 1/4″ of finely sifted soil.
• Once your seedlings have germinated and have a set of true leaves you will need to regularly fertilize with an organic liquid fertilizer to ensure happy plants.
• Transplant out your plants when they are about 5-6″ tall. Plant them in a full sun location with fertile and well-draining soils. It is a good practice to incorporate compost and a granular fertilizer into the soil before you plant. Pac Choi are heavy feeders.
• Space plants at least 24″ apart.

Growing Pac Choi

• Growing this crop in a warm climate can be difficult—it grows best in cool, moist environments. Protection like shade cloth and row cover can help your plants to thrive.

Growing Pac Choi in Containers

• Pac Choi can be grown in a container, but they need adequate space. If you are planting in a container, make sure your container is at least 20″ deep. Keep in mind containers will dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture. Mulch heavily on the top of the soil to help regulate soil moisture.

Harvesting Pac Choi

• Harvest at any desirable size, from baby to full-size plants, before the plants have flowered.

Southern California Pro-tips

• In areas of Zones 9 and 10, pac choi can be a difficult crop. Make sure you grow them in the cool season and protect small seedlings from high temperatures and lack of moisture.
• Mulch heavily around your plants to ensure the soil does not dry out or heat up too much.
• During our hottest months of August, September, and October, plants can suffer from the heat. During this time, using shade cloth can help protect the plants from extreme heat.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Interplant with companion flowers that help with destructive insects. We recommend you plant alyssum, nasturtium, and poppies around your plants for a beautiful and bountiful garden.

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics!
• Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube page!
• Having pest issues? Check out in-depth information for pests that can be an issue to Pac Choi at the UC Integrated Pest Management site.

What do Pac Choi, Daikon radish, Mizuna mustard, Black Knight Tatsoi, and Tokyo onion have in common? They’re all essential ingredients for Asian dishes we love to make and eat! Be sure to include them in your cool-season garden as you decide What Vegetables to Plant in Fall.