How to Grow Bok Choy? A Complete Guide to Four-Season Planting Methods

Bok choy is something we buy all year round. Many children do not like eating vegetables, but different cooking methods can change their minds. Today, the editor wants to introduce the four-season planting methods for bok choy. Let's take a look!

Four-Season Planting Methods for Bok Choy

I. Spring Cultivation Methods for Bok Choy

1. Varieties: For bok choy cultivated in spring, choose varieties with strong winter hardiness so they are less likely to bolt. In the Shanghai area, varieties such as Sanyue Man, Siyue Man and Wuyue Man are generally used.

2. Raising seedlings: Make the seedling bed into a ridge 2 m wide (including the ditch), and use 1000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu. Sow from early to late October, using 0.3 kg of seed per mu. Sow evenly and press the soil firm after sowing. After emergence, thin the seedlings 2~3 times and apply a moderate amount of topdressing. When the seedlings have 6~7 true leaves, they can be transplanted to the field.

3. Land preparation: After plowing the field, apply 50 kg per mu of compound fertilizer specially for vegetables as a base fertilizer, and make ridges 2.5 m wide (including the ditch), ready for transplanting.

4. Sanyue Man raised in a greenhouse is transplanted in late January, and Wuyue Man is transplanted from early February to late March. The plant and row spacings are 10×15 cm for Sanyue Man, 15×15 cm for Siyue Man, and 15×20 cm for Wuyue Man.

5. Field management: Apply topdressing once after the transplanted plants have taken root, using 5 kg of urea per mu. Apply a second time before the plants close the rows, using 7.5 kg of urea per mu. In March, pay attention to preventing aphids.

6. Harvest: Sanyue Man raised in open-field seedling beds is harvested from late February to late March, Siyue Man raised in greenhouses is harvested from late March to early April, and Wuyue Man is harvested from late April to early May. Remove the roots with a kitchen knife and market the trimmed vegetables.

II. Summer Cultivation Methods for Bok Choy

1. Varieties: Choose varieties with strong heat tolerance and good quality for summer cultivation, such as Kangreqing No. 3, Huawang, 605, etc.

2. Land preparation: Apply 40 kg per mu of compound fertilizer specially for vegetables as a base fertilizer, and make ridges 2 m wide (including the ditch). Make deep ditches and high ridges to facilitate drainage and irrigation.

3. Sowing: Huo bok choy (bok choy cultivated in summer is called huo bok choy) is sown in batches from mid-June to early August, broadcast evenly. The seeding rate depends on the cultivation purpose. For cultivation as jimaocai, the seeding rate is 2.5~3 kg per mu. For “one sowing, three harvests”, the seeding rate is 1.2~1.5 kg. For use as vegetable seedlings, the seeding rate is 1 kg. Full-season coverage cultivation with insect-proof nets and shade nets can be used to achieve the goal of using less or no pesticide.

4. Field management: For huo bok choy, thin the seedlings when the cotyledons unfold, keeping a seedling spacing of 3 cm. Thin again after true leaves appear, with a seedling spacing of 12~14 cm. Apply topdressing after each thinning, using 6 kg per mu each time of compound fertilizer specially for vegetables. Transplanted huo bok choy is generally sown in late July, with a seedling age of 25 days. Choose cool weather for transplanting, pull the seedlings in the afternoon, and transplant after 3 p.m., with a density of 12~14 cm square. Follow the principle of light and frequent watering, watering before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. to prevent the vegetables from rotting. Pay attention to controlling aphids, cabbage caterpillars and diamondback moths.

III. Autumn Cultivation Methods for Bok Choy

1. Varieties: Generally choose varieties with relatively strong resistance to viral diseases, such as Aikangqing and Xinchangqing.

2. Raising seedlings: Prepare the seedling land well and sow in batches from early August to late September to raise seedlings, with a seeding rate of 0.5~0.75 kg per mu. After sowing, water 1~2 times a day. Thin 2~3 times after emergence, with a final seedling spacing of 3 cm square.

3. Land preparation is the same as for spring cultivation.

4. Transplanting: The transplanting time is generally from early September to early November, with a plant and row spacing of 20×25 cm. Water immediately after transplanting to settle the roots.

5. Field management: After the plants have taken root, apply the first topdressing, using 5 kg of urea per mu, and apply topdressing once more before the plants close the rows. In case of drought, water or irrigate in time, and pay attention to controlling aphids and viral diseases.

6. Harvest: The harvest period varies depending on the transplanting time. For those transplanted in September, they can be harvested in 25~30 days. For those transplanted in early to mid-October, harvest in about 40 days; for those transplanted from late October to early November, harvest in 45 days.

IV. Winter Cultivation Methods for Bok Choy

1. Varieties: Generally choose Dongchangqing and Eryue Man.

2. Raising seedlings: Sow from late September to early October to raise seedlings, with a seeding rate of 0.4~0.75 g per mu, and apply appropriate topdressing during the seedling stage.

3. Land preparation: Same as for spring cultivation.

4. Transplanting: The transplanting period for winter bok choy is from early November to the end of January the following year. Plant deeply and densely when transplanting. To avoid freeze damage, the usual plant and row spacing is 8×15~17 cm.

5. Field management: Basically the same as for spring cultivation; strengthen cold protection measures, and non-woven fabric floating row covers can be used.

6. Harvest: Bok choy sown in winter grows slowly, and it takes 80~90 days from transplanting to harvest. It can be appropriately advanced or delayed according to the market.