How to grow Bok Choy in Australia
Bok choy (Brassica rapa var. chinensis), also sold as pak choy, is one of the fastest leafy vegetables you can grow, with crisp, juicy stems and dark green leaves for stir-fries and soups. Baby leaves are ready in about four weeks and full heads in eight to ten. Grow it fast in mild weather, with steady water, and it rarely fails.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Bok Choy in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | February to September | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | February to September | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to September | Better in cool season; extend autumn plantings into August. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | February to September | Sow from February to September. Cool temperatures suit bok choy best, and a late summer sowing in February gives an autumn harvest. |
| Adelaide & SA | March to September | Mediterranean: shift to Mar to Sept. Bok choy heat-stressed Jan to Feb; prefers mild winters. |
| Perth & WA | March to September | Mediterranean: shift to Mar to Sept. Bok choy heat-stressed Jan to Feb; prefers mild winters. |
| Tasmania | August to March | Sow Aug to Mar. Late summer sowings give the best autumn crops. Early spring sowings can bolt after cold nights. |
| Canberra & ACT | February to April, September and October | Main sowing Feb to Apr for autumn harvest; quick spring crop Sep to Oct. Winter too cold, midsummer bolts. |
| North Queensland | May to September | Dry season. Sow May to Sep. Bok choy tolerates tropical dry season better than other brassicas. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to September | Dry season. Sow May to Sep. Bok choy tolerates tropical dry season better than other brassicas. |
Not to be confused with: Wombok (Chinese cabbage), which forms a tall, tight head, and tatsoi, which has small, round leaves in a flat rosette. All three are forms of the same species.
Where to plant
Bok choy grows best in mild weather in rich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. It is shallow rooted and fast growing, so it needs steady water. Full sun suits it in the cooler months; give it part shade if you sow in warm weather.
Stress makes it bolt (run to flower): heat, dry soil, or a run of cold nights followed by warm weather. Keep it growing quickly and it stays leafy.
- Melbourne: sow from February to September; a February sowing gives an autumn harvest.
- Sydney, Adelaide and Perth: sow from March to September, avoiding the summer heat.
- Canberra: sow from February to April for autumn, and a quick spring crop in September and October.
- Hobart: sow from August to March; late summer sowings give the best autumn crops.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from February to September.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow in the dry season, May to September.
Choosing a variety
- Green-stemmed types such as Shanghai Green are often sold as pak choy; white-stemmed types as bok choy.
- Baby bok choy is a dwarf type that stays under about 20 cm, rather than an immature plant.
How to plant
- Sow seed thinly, about 0.5 to 1 cm deep, in rows about 30 cm apart, or raise seedlings in punnets.
- Keep the soil moist; seedlings appear within about a week.
- Thin to about 8 cm apart for baby leaves, or 20 to 30 cm for full-sized heads.
- Sow a little every two or three weeks for a steady supply.
Watering and feeding
Water regularly so the soil never dries out. Dry soil makes the stems tough and triggers bolting. Mulch helps keep the soil evenly moist.
Dig compost in before sowing and give a nitrogen-rich liquid feed every couple of weeks to keep the leaves growing quickly.
Pruning and care through the year
- Keep plants growing without a check: water, feed and keep weeds down.
- Cover plants with fine insect netting to keep cabbage white butterflies from laying eggs.
- If plants start to send up a flower stem, harvest them straight away.
Harvesting
For baby leaves, cut leaves from about four weeks after sowing and let the plant regrow for more picks. For full heads, cut the whole plant at the base when it is a good size, about eight to ten weeks after sowing. Harvest before any flower stems appear.
Keep bok choy in a plastic bag in the fridge, where it stores for up to a week.
Growing in pots
Bok choy grows well in pots and troughs at least 25 cm wide, especially baby types. Use a quality potting mix and water often, as small pots dry out quickly.
Using it
- Steam, stir-fry or add to soups. Add the thick stems first as they take longer to cook, and slice them on the diagonal to soak up sauces.
- Baby leaves can be used raw in salads.
Companion planting
Bok choy fits between slower crops and is harvested before they need the space. Keep it out of beds where other cabbage family crops grew recently, to avoid soil diseases.
Good companions
- Beetroot A root crop that uses different space in the bed and suits the same cool season.
- Celery Likes the same rich, moist soil, and bok choy is picked long before the celery needs the room.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to bok choy.
- Tomato A warm-season crop that needs different timing and shades low leafy plants.
Pests and diseases
Caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly and cabbage moth are the main pests. Netting is the simplest control.
Pests to watch for
- Cabbage moth Holes in leaves and green caterpillars underneath, from cabbage white butterfly and cabbage moth. Net plants or pick caterpillars off.
- Slugs Ragged holes in young leaves and slime trails, especially in wet weather. Snails do the same.
- Aphids Clusters of grey or green insects in the leaf bases.
Diseases to watch for
Common questions
Why is my bok choy bolting?
Stress makes it flower early: hot weather, dry soil, or a run of cold nights followed by warmth. Sow in mild weather, water steadily, and harvest as soon as you see a flower stem.
How long does bok choy take to grow?
Baby leaves can be picked from about four weeks after sowing. Full-sized heads take about eight to ten weeks.
What is the difference between bok choy and pak choy?
They are the same vegetable. In Australia, green-stemmed types are usually called pak choy and white-stemmed types bok choy.
Can you harvest bok choy more than once?
Yes, if you pick the outer leaves or cut baby leaves above the base, the plant regrows for another pick or two. For full heads, cut the whole plant.
When should I plant bok choy?
In mild weather. In most southern areas sow from late summer to early spring, avoiding midsummer heat. In the tropics sow in the dry season. Pick your region at the top of the page for the months.
How do I stop caterpillars eating my bok choy?
Cover the plants with fine insect netting from sowing so the butterflies cannot lay eggs. Check under leaves and remove any caterpillars or eggs you find.
Sources we checked: NSW DPI (NT DPIR): Buk choy identification sheet; Gardening Australia: Pak bok, tatsoi, bok choy, wong bok; RHS: How to grow pak choi; University of Minnesota Extension: Growing Chinese cabbage and bok choy.