How to grow bok choy / pak choi
Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis · Brassicaceae · Vegetable
When to plant bok choy / pak choi: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 4 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks before it; sow outdoors about 2 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 8 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F, fastest near 70°F.
Cold winters (zone 5): plant out Apr 9 – Apr 26, or sow Jul 31 – Aug 17 for a fall crop. Mild winters (zone 9): sow Sep 25 – Oct 12 for fall and winter harvests; the spring window (Jan 30 – Feb 16) closes before the summer heat. Skip the hottest months for bok choy / pak choi. See every zone.
Bok Choy / Pak Choi is a cool-season vegetable in the Brassicaceae family, grown either from a direct sowing or from transplants. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and consistent moisture — it resents drying out. From sowing to first pick is about 35–50 days. It shrugs off a light frost but a hard freeze will damage it.
Grower’s note: Bolts quickly in heat or after a cold spell in spring, so the fall crop is more dependable. Grow it fast with steady water for tender stalks; baby heads at 4-6 in are the sweet spot.
Sowing
Sow about 0.5″ deep, into soil between 45–85°F — germination is quickest near 70°F. It comes up fast (4–8 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 4 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 8″ along the row with roughly 12″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 4 per square foot. Allow at least 10″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 8″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, bok choy / pak choi does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. A second sowing in late summer, timed to mature as the weather cools, is usually the better crop of the year — though a hard freeze will end it.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long bok choy / pak choi takes to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 35-50 days (5-7 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 4-8 days in soil around 70°F.
When to plant bok choy / pak choi
When to plant bok choy / pak choi by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Fall or second sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | Apr 24 – May 11 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Apr 19 – May 6 | Jul 21 – Aug 7 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Apr 9 – Apr 26 | Jul 31 – Aug 17 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Mar 25 – Apr 11 | Aug 10 – Aug 27 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Mar 15 – Apr 1 | Aug 20 – Sep 6 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 | Aug 31 – Sep 17 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Jan 30 – Feb 16 | Sep 25 – Oct 12 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Jan 9 – Jan 26 | Oct 10 – Oct 27 |
Companions
Onion, Beet, Cucumber
Tomato, Pole Bean, strawberry
Common problems
Pests: flea beetle, cabbage worm, aphids, slugs.
Diseases & disorders: clubroot, downy mildew.
Same family (Brassicaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant bok choy / pak choi?
Start seeds indoors about 4 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks before it; sow outdoors about 2 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 8 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does bok choy / pak choi take to grow?
About 35-50 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 4-8 days, fastest in soil around 70°F.
How much sun does bok choy / pak choi need?
It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough.
What soil pH does bok choy / pak choi need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant bok choy / pak choi?
Space plants about 8 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, or 4 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep.
Can I grow bok choy / pak choi in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 8 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.