DIY Network

Bok Choi Bok Choi From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-213

Figure A

Joe sows the seeds of bok choi (figure A), a popular Asian cabbage, in his garden plot. He explains the cultural requirements of bok choi and recommends two varieties that are particularly good for home gardens. He also demonstrates how to thin seedlings and explains why the practice of thinning is necessary.

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Bok choi, a member of the cabbage family, has tender leaves and crunchy stalks, both of which have a fresh, cabbagelike flavor. Bok choi is native to Asia, and its name means "white vegetable" in Chinese. A staple in Asian cooking, it's used in stir-fries, sautés and relishes.

Figure B

• Bok choi is taller and thinner (figure B) than the round European cabbage that most of us are familiar with. It grows more quickly than round-headed cabbage and takes up less garden space. It can also be harvested at different stages of maturity, so in many ways it's more versatile than regular cabbage. Since it's a cool-weather crop, it's typically planted in early spring or in the fall.

• The only difficult thing about this plant is its name. When you get ready to purchase seed, either from a catalog or a garden center, you'll see that bok Choi is often spelled different ways: bok is sometimes spelled starting with a B and other times with a P, and choi is sometimes spelled with an I' and sometimes with a Y. Don't worry: it's all the same thing. If in doubt, check the botanical name (Brassica rapa, Chinensis group).

• Bok choi matures fairly quickly, most varieties within 40 to 50 days. Like most quick-maturing crops, it does well when it's directly sown into the garden.
  

  Figure C

• Bok choi grows best in full sun (figure C), in a rich, well-drained soil with a neutral pH. If necessary, add a cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer to your garden bed and mix it into the soil to a depth of about 10 inches. Mixing the fertilizer in thoroughly will insure that it's distributed through the soil, and it will prevent the root burn that can occur if too much fertilizer comes in direct contact with tender young roots.

• Bok choi has a tall, upright growth habit, so it can be planted in rows that are fairly closely spaced (10" between rows is adequate).

Figure D

1. Sow one seed every 2"-3" along the length of each row (figure D). Cover the seeds with 1/4"-1/2" of soil and water the bed with a fine misting spray. Keep the bed evenly moist until the seeds germinate.

2. If a short growing season requires you to start the seeds indoors, you can sow the seeds three to four weeks before you want to transplant them.

3. Mark each row with the name of the variety that you planted. One good variety, called simply "Bok Choi," has a sweet, celerylike flavor and is very resistant to bolting. It typically matures in 50 days. Another good choice, "Joi Choi," grows taller than Bok Choi, and its leaves and stalks have a mustard flavor. It's also resistant to bolting and reaches maturity in only 45 days.

4. In a vegetable garden you typically sow more seeds than the number of plants that you actually want. Not all the seeds will germinate, and some of the ones that do will be eaten by birds and other pests while they're still small and vulnerable. By the time the seedlings get 2"-3" tall, it's time to thin them down.

Figure E

It seems like a cruel waste, but thinning seedlings is necessary (figure E). Seedlings that are not thinned will become crowded, subject to disease and unable to get the nutrients they need for proper growth.

The plants should be allowed to grow 12"-15" apart in each row. To thin them to this distance, you'll need to pull out the extra seedlings. You can pull the seedling up by hand or cut them down at soil level with a pair of scissors.

5. Bok choi grows best when the soil stays moist but not soggy. It's especially important to keep the soil moist while the seedlings get established, but don't let the foliage stay wet for long periods of time, since that encourages disease. The trick is either to use a drip irrigation system or to water in the early morning so that the foliage can dry before midday.