Bok choy is a cool-season green that bolts in warm weather. Plant it in early spring, around your last frost, and again in late summer for a fall crop. University of Maryland sows from April into the first week of May and from the second week of August into early September in central Maryland. In mild-winter California, UC Master Gardeners plant in February to April and September to October. Baby plants can be cut in about a month; full heads take about 60 days.
Bok choy (pak choi) is a leafy Asian green in the cabbage family with thick, fleshy stalks (UC Master Gardeners, NC State). It grows best in cool weather, tolerates light frost, and goes to flower quickly once the weather warms or if it isn't harvested in time (UC Master Gardeners, NC State).
Spring dates by last frost
The table counts from your average last spring frost. The window is GardenPal's translation of University of Maryland's spring sowing dates for central Maryland, April through the first week of May with an average last frost of April 15, which runs from about 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the frost. NC State says bok choy tolerates light frost, so the early end is fine for most springs.
| Average last spring frost | Sow or transplant outdoors |
|---|---|
| Mar 1 | Feb 15 – Mar 22 |
| Mar 15 | Mar 1 – Apr 5 |
| Apr 1 | Mar 18 – Apr 22 |
| Apr 15 | Apr 1 – May 6 |
| May 1 | Apr 17 – May 22 |
| May 15 | May 1 – Jun 5 |
| Jun 1 | May 18 – Jun 22 |
To get a head start, grow your own seedlings. UC Master Gardeners start seeds about 3 weeks before planting them out. Don't push too late into spring: warm weather makes bok choy bolt, and University of Maryland's spring harvest ends by early July.
Fall bok choy
Fall is a good season for bok choy because the plants mature as the weather cools. University of Maryland sows fall bok choy from the second week of August through the first week of September in central Maryland, where the average first fall frost is about October 25, and harvests from mid-September into November. That works out to about 11 to 7 weeks before the first frost, which GardenPal uses for the table below.
| Average first fall frost | Sow or transplant fall bok choy |
|---|---|
| Sep 15 | Jun 30 – Jul 28 |
| Oct 1 | Jul 16 – Aug 13 |
| Oct 15 | Jul 30 – Aug 27 |
| Nov 1 | Aug 16 – Sep 13 |
| Nov 15 | Aug 30 – Sep 27 |
NC State says bok choy can be grown in spring or fall from seed or transplants and tolerates light frost, so a light frost won't end a fall planting.
Texas and Florida
Texas A&M's fall vegetable table and UF/IFAS's Florida month-by-month calendar list Chinese cabbage but not bok choy, so we don't have extension dates for bok choy in those states. Since bok choy bolts in warm weather and tolerates light frost (UC Master Gardeners, NC State), plan it for the cool months rather than summer. For cabbage-family dates in Texas and Florida, see what to plant in fall.
Planting and spacing
| Step | What extension sources say |
|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun to part shade; NC State says it can grow with as little as 2 hours of sun, but more slowly |
| Soil | pH 6.0 to 7.5 (NC State) |
| Seed depth | ¼ to ½ inch (NC State) |
| Spacing | About 6 inches (NC State) or 6 to 8 inches (UC Master Gardeners) |
| Containers | At least 1 gallon and about 20 inches deep (NC State) |
| Protection | Row covers help keep insects off (NC State) |
Harvest
UC Master Gardeners harvest about a month after sowing, when plants are about 1 foot tall, and pull whole plants to thin the row and give the rest more room. NC State says plants mature in about 60 days and you can pick outer leaves or cut the whole head. If plants start to bolt, harvest before the flowers open (NC State). NC State keeps bok choy in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks.
Pests and diseases
Bok choy shares pests and diseases with the rest of the cabbage family (UC Master Gardeners). NC State lists aphids, whiteflies, flea beetles, cabbage loopers, cutworms, beet armyworms, slugs and snails, plus diseases such as club root, white rust, leaf spot, damping off and bacterial soft rot.
Where bok choy goes in the garden
Plant bok choy with the other cabbage-family crops and rotate them together; see what to plant with cabbage. Because it is small and fast, it fits between slower crops like broccoli and kale; see what to plant with kale. For other quick cool-season crops on a similar schedule, see when to plant kohlrabi and when to plant mustard greens.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant bok choy?
In early spring around your last frost, and again in late summer for fall. University of Maryland sows from April into the first week of May and from the second week of August into early September in central Maryland.
Can you plant bok choy in the fall?
Yes. NC State grows it in spring or fall and says it tolerates light frost. University of Maryland harvests fall-sown bok choy from mid-September into November.
When do you plant bok choy in California?
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County direct seed or transplant from February to April for spring and from September to October for fall.
How long does bok choy take to grow?
UC Master Gardeners harvest about a month after sowing, at about 1 foot tall. NC State says plants mature in about 60 days.
Why is my bok choy bolting?
Warm weather makes bok choy flower, and it bolts quickly if not harvested (UC Master Gardeners). Plant earlier in spring or in late summer, and harvest before the flowers open (NC State).
How far apart do you plant bok choy?
About 6 inches (NC State) or 6 to 8 inches (UC Master Gardeners), with seed ¼ to ½ inch deep.
Can you grow bok choy in a container?
Yes. NC State suggests a container of at least 1 gallon and about 20 inches deep.
Enter your frost dates to see spring and fall windows for bok choy and other cool-season crops.
Open itSources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, "Companion Planting in Gardening" (SPES-620P)
- University of Maryland Extension, "Vegetable Succession and Companion Planting"
- Oregon State University Extension, "Companion Planting"
- Penn State Extension, "Herbs Make Good Plant Partners and Companions"
- University of Minnesota Extension, "Planting the vegetable garden"
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (frost/freeze data)
- UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, "Bok Choy"
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, "Brassica rapa (Chinensis Group)" (bok choy)
- University of Maryland Extension, "When to Plant Vegetables"
Pairings are summarized in our own words from extension-service guidance. Research support for many companion effects is limited, so treat them as good habits, not guarantees.