How to Grow Baby Bok Choy? Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Timing

First prepare a plot of land with sufficient fertility, deep-plow it and apply enough base fertilizer, then level it and make raised beds. Evenly sow the vegetable seeds you want to plant onto the surface of the beds, then cover with soil, water lightly, and cover with a layer of rice straw. After the sprouts emerge, remove the rice straw, and do the work of thinning and filling in seedlings, watering and fertilizing, and weeding. Generally it can be planted all year round: in spring, it can be grown in a greenhouse from November to February; in summer, it is grown in the open field from April to August; and in autumn and winter, it is grown in the open field from August to November.

Detailed Planting Methods for Baby Bok Choy:

1. Variety Selection

The choice of varieties to plant differs with the season. When planting in spring, choose varieties with strong cold resistance, such as 'February Slow' and 'Winter Evergreen'; in summer, when temperatures are extremely high, choose varieties with strong heat tolerance, such as 'Heat-Resistant 605' and 'Summer Wintergreen'; for autumn and winter planting, temperatures are suitable in the early stage and lower in the later stage, so varieties such as 'Short Dwarf Green', 'Winter Evergreen' and 'Shanghai Green' are generally chosen.

2. Land Preparation and Fertilization

Baby bok choy has an extremely short growth cycle, so one week before plowing, apply 1000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, bury it into the soil through plowing, then level and harrow it fine, and then make the beds. In spring it is mostly grown in greenhouses, so shallow beds are generally made; summer is a hot and rainy season, so deep furrows and high beds should be made to facilitate irrigation and drainage; autumn and winter beds should be higher than spring beds but lower than summer ones.

3. Sowing

When sowing, evenly scatter the seeds over the surface of the bed. After sowing, shallowly rake the bed surface to cover the seeds, then tread it firm, and water according to the dryness and moisture of the soil. Generally, 2 kg of seeds are sown per mu. In summer, sowing takes place during the hot season, so from sowing to emergence, shade measures must be taken to prevent strong light from burning the seedlings to death. Also, in dry weather, water thoroughly once before sowing, and sow after the water has seeped into the soil. Before emergence, keep the soil moist at all times. Summer temperatures are high and the survival rate is relatively low, so the sowing rate is also larger, generally 2-4 kg per mu. Autumn sowing also coincides with a period of high temperatures; if the soil is too dry at sowing time, water first as well. The sowing method and sowing rate are the same as in spring.

4. Field Management

Growing baby bok choy is relatively simple. With sufficient base fertilizer applied, generally only two topdressings are needed before harvest. The first topdressing is after the cotyledons unfold, applying 5 kg of urea per mu; it is recommended to dilute the fertilizer with water and pour it on. The second is after two true leaves appear, applying 10 kg of urea per mu. At the same time, keep the soil moist; water frequently, but avoid flooding irrigation. Also pay attention to the intrusion of pests and diseases. The main disease is viral disease, and the main pests include aphids, cabbage caterpillars, and diamondback moths, so their control should be done well. In spring, harvest is generally possible 40-50 days after sowing; in summer, 20-25 days; in autumn and winter, 25-40 days.

The above is an introduction to the planting methods and timing of baby bok choy. We hope it is helpful to everyone.