How to grow Wombok in Australia
Wombok, also called Chinese cabbage or napa cabbage, forms a tall, tight, pale green head of crinkled, tender leaves with a mild, sweet flavour. It is the cabbage for kimchi, dumplings and stir-fries. It grows quickly in cool weather but bolts easily, so timing and steady water are the keys to good heads.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Wombok (Chinese Cabbage) in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | February to July | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | February to July | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | February to July | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | February to June | Sow from February to June for an autumn and winter harvest. Wombok is frost hardy, and Melbourne's cool climate extends the season. |
| Adelaide & SA | February to July | Mediterranean: avoid sowing Aug to Jan. Wombok (napa cabbage) requires cool weather Feb to Jul. |
| Perth & WA | February to July | Mediterranean: avoid sowing Aug to Jan. Wombok (napa cabbage) requires cool weather Feb to Jul. |
| Tasmania | November to January | Sow Nov to Jan only. Earlier sowings bolt after cold nights. Hearts up in autumn. |
| Canberra & ACT | December to February | Sow Dec to Feb, transplant by Mar for autumn heads. Shortening days reduce bolting. |
| North Queensland | May to August | Dry season May to Aug. Wombok (Chinese cabbage) needs cool temps; marginal in tropics even in dry season. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to August | Dry season May to Aug. Wombok (Chinese cabbage) needs cool temps; marginal in tropics even in dry season. |
Not to be confused with: Cabbage, the round, firm European type, and Bok Choy, a loose-leaf Asian green. Wombok has a tall, oblong head and softer leaves.
Where to plant
Wombok needs full sun or part shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Lime acid soils before planting. It is a hungry, thirsty plant that grows fast: any check, such as dry soil, cold snaps, heat or root disturbance, can make it bolt to seed instead of forming a head.
Rotate it with other cabbage-family crops to avoid clubroot and other soil diseases.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth: sow from February to July. Avoid sowing from August to January, when warming weather causes bolting.
- Melbourne: sow from February to June for autumn and winter heads.
- Hobart: sow from November to January only. Earlier sowings bolt after cold nights; heads form in autumn.
- Canberra: sow from December to February and transplant by March for autumn heads. Shortening days reduce bolting.
- North Queensland and Darwin: marginal. Try sowing in the dry season, from May to August.
How to plant
- Dig compost and a little blood and bone or complete fertiliser into the bed.
- Sow seed directly where it will grow, about 0.5 cm deep, as transplanting can trigger bolting. If you raise seedlings, use small pots or cells and plant them out young without disturbing the roots.
- Keep the soil moist. Seedlings appear in about a week.
- Thin seedlings when they are 5 to 6 cm tall, to about 30 to 45 cm apart for full heads.
Watering and feeding
Water generously and steadily so the soil never dries out. Dry spells are the most common trigger for bolting. Mulch to hold moisture.
Feed well with nitrogen: a liquid fertiliser every week or two from a few weeks after sowing gives fast growth and tight, heavy heads.
Pruning and care through the year
- Check the leaves often for caterpillars of cabbage white butterfly and cabbage moth, and use fine insect mesh over hoops to keep them off.
- Protect seedlings from snails and slugs.
- If a variety is slow to heart, loosely tie the outer leaves around the head with soft twine as it nears maturity.
Harvesting
Heads are ready about 10 to 12 weeks after sowing, when they feel firm and dense when squeezed. Cut the whole head at the base with a sharp knife. Harvest before warm weather arrives, as bolting heads quickly turn loose and bitter. Young leaves can be picked earlier, from about six weeks.
Whole heads keep up to two weeks in a bag in the fridge.
Growing in pots
Wombok can grow in a large pot at least 40 cm wide and deep with a rich potting mix, but pots dry out fast and drying triggers bolting. Water daily in warm weather and feed regularly. Smaller or quick varieties suit pots best.
Using it
Wombok is the classic cabbage for kimchi. It is also excellent in stir-fries, soups, hotpots, dumplings and san choy bow, and shredded raw in slaws and salads, where its leaves are crisp but tender.
Companion planting
Wombok shares the cool-season bed with other low crops that do not compete for its rich, moist soil.
Good companions
- Onion A slim cool-season crop that fits between wombok plants.
- Dill Its flowers bring in hoverflies and small wasps that prey on aphids and caterpillars.
- Beetroot A low root crop that uses the space between rows.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to wombok.
- Strawberry Commonly kept away from the cabbage family. Give them separate beds.
- Tomato A summer crop with different timing and needs; often listed as a poor neighbour for brassicas.
Pests and diseases
Wombok attracts the usual cabbage-family pests. Bolting is the biggest problem, and it comes from stress rather than insects.
Pests to watch for
- Cabbage moth Small green caterpillars and holes in the leaves, often deep inside the head.
- Slugs Holes and slime trails, especially on seedlings and outer leaves.
- Snails Ragged holes in young plants after rain.
- Aphids Grey, waxy clusters between the leaves.
Diseases to watch for
- Clubroot Plants wilt on warm days and roots are swollen and distorted. Lime acid soil and rotate.
- Black rot Yellow, V-shaped patches at the leaf edges with blackened veins, worst in warm, wet weather.
- Downy mildew Yellow patches on top of the leaves with grey fuzz underneath in cool, damp weather.
Common questions
Why is my wombok bolting?
Wombok bolts when it is stressed: dry soil, cold snaps, heat, long days or root disturbance from transplanting. Sow on time for your region, sow directly or plant out young seedlings, and keep the soil constantly moist.
When do I plant wombok?
In late summer and autumn: February to July in most regions, February to June in Melbourne, November to January in Hobart and December to February in Canberra. Pick your region at the top of the page for the months.
How long does wombok take to grow?
About 10 to 12 weeks from sowing to a firm head. Young leaves can be picked from about six weeks.
How do I know when wombok is ready?
When the head feels firm and dense when you squeeze it. Cut it at the base before warm weather makes it bolt.
Is wombok the same as Chinese cabbage?
Yes. Wombok, Chinese cabbage and napa cabbage are names for the same tall, oblong-headed cabbage.
Why does my wombok not form a head?
Usually heat, dry soil or a late sowing, which make it bolt before it hearts up, or not enough feeding. Sow in late summer or autumn, water generously and feed with nitrogen.
Sources we checked: Yates: Chinese cabbage wombok seeds; Yates: How to grow Asian greens; Sustainable Gardening Australia: Asian greens; RHS: Chinese cabbage, grow your own.