GrowSabzHow to grow pak choi in pots
Also called Bok Choy, Chinese Cabbage, bok choy, chinese cabbage · Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
پاک چوئی
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 3–6hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 0.4 Levery 2 days, 5 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 13–24°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 5 L15 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 30–60days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 1 kgper 20 L pot
Pak Choi keeps producing once it starts. First picking comes around day 30, and the plant then crops for roughly 30 more days — but only if you keep picking. Letting it run to flower is what ends the supply.
Short answer
Grow pak choi in a 5 litre container at least 15 cm deep, watering about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil every 2 days, and keep temperatures between 13 and 24 °C. First harvest comes 30–60 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does pak choi need?
5 litres and 15 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 5 L | 15 cm | Use pots with good drainage to prevent waterlogging. |
| Grow bag | 5 L | 15 cm | Fabric bags provide excellent aeration and drainage. |
| Open ground | — | 20 cm | Ensure consistent soil moisture and good organic matter. |
| Raised bed | 10 L | 20 cm | Ideal for controlling soil conditions and drainage. |
Watering
How often should you water pak choi?
Every 2 days through the growing season, at about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — daily in hot weather, every 3 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Drip irrigation or base watering works best.
Too little water
- wilting
- stunted growth
- bitter taste
- bolting
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- stunted growth
- root rot
Avoid: overhead watering (can promote disease); letting soil dry out completely.
Climate
Can you grow pak choi where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 13 – 24 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -2 – 28 °C |
| Germinates above | 7 °C — best at 21 °C, about 7 days |
| Flowers drop | above 27 °C |
| Sunlight | 3–8 hrs/day, best 6 |
| Frost | Medium sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 28 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for pak choi? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Pak Choi growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for pak choi
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why pak choi fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 5 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Pak Choi wants about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 27 °C flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Harvesting too late
Left too long the colour changes, seeds harden and the flavour sharpens. Pick on the signs listed below, not on the calendar.
- Planting it beside Tomato
Tomatoes can stunt the growth of Pak Choi and compete for nutrients. They also attract different pests that may indirectly affect Pak Choi.
Companions
What to plant with pak choi
Good neighbours
Repels nematodes and other harmful insects, improving soil health and protecting Pak Choi roots.
Acts as a living mulch, keeping the soil cool and moist, which benefits Pak Choi. Their shallow roots don't compete for nutrients.
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps and ladybugs, which prey on common Pak Choi pests such as cabbage worms and aphids.
Its strong scent deters flea beetles and other pests. Plant in containers to prevent aggressive spreading.
Emits a strong odor that helps deter aphids, slugs, and other pests that target Brassicas.
Keep apart from
Tomatoes can stunt the growth of Pak Choi and compete for nutrients. They also attract different pests that may indirectly affect Pak Choi.
Strawberries can inhibit the growth of Pak Choi and other Brassicas, potentially due to allelopathic effects or nutrient competition.
Pole beans can shade out Pak Choi, hindering its growth, and may compete for similar soil nutrients.
As fellow Brassicas, they compete for the same nutrients and attract the same pests and diseases, increasing overall pressure on both crops.
Grapes can release compounds that inhibit the growth of many vegetables, including Pak Choi, due to allelopathic effects.
Problems
Pak Choi pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Cabbage Worms humidity any · temp >18
Includes imported cabbageworms, cabbage loopers, and diamondback moth larvae. They chew ragged holes in leaves, often near the center, and can quickly defoliate plants.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and the undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing distorted, yellowed leaves. They also secrete sticky honeydew.
Flea Beetles humidity <60% · temp >20
Tiny, jumping beetles that chew small, round holes (shot-hole damage) in leaves, especially on young plants. Severe infestations can stunt growth.
Slugs Snails humidity >70% · temp 10-20
Leave irregular holes in leaves, often along the edges or in the middle, and shiny slime trails. Most active in cool, moist conditions.
Downy Mildew humidity >80% · temp 10-20
Causes yellow spots on the upper surface of older leaves, with fuzzy gray or purplish mold on the undersides. Can lead to leaf drop and reduced yield.
Black Rot humidity >70% · temp 20-30
Starts as V-shaped yellow lesions on leaf margins that progress inward, with veins turning black. Can spread rapidly in warm, wet conditions.
Bolting humidity any · temp >25 or sudden changes
Premature flowering (sending up a seed stalk) often caused by heat stress, sudden temperature fluctuations, or prolonged dry periods. Leaves become bitter and tough.
Harvest
When to harvest pak choi
First picking falls between day 30 and day 60, and the plant then keeps producing for about 30 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Baby Pak Choi: 4-6 inches tall, tender leaves.
- Full-size Pak Choi: 8-12 inches tall, firm, vibrant green leaves, before bolting.
How much to expect
Storing it: Store unwashed Pak Choi in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Questions
Pak Choi: common questions
How long does pak choi take to grow?
About 50 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 30 and day 60. It then keeps producing for roughly 30 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does pak choi need?
At least 5 litres and 15 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 10 litres of soil and 20 cm of depth.
How often should I water pak choi?
About 600 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 2 days in normal weather — daily when it is hot and every 3 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does pak choi need?
It does best between 13 °C and 24 °C and survives from -2 °C to 28 °C. Seed needs soil above 7 °C to germinate, ideally around 21 °C.
Can I grow pak choi in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -2 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when pak choi is ready to harvest?
Baby Pak Choi: 4-6 inches tall, tender leaves.; Full-size Pak Choi: 8-12 inches tall, firm, vibrant green leaves, before bolting.. Once picked: store unwashed pak choi in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
How much does one pak choi plant produce?
Roughly 1 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 2.5 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.