Bok choy, also known by its scientific name Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis, is a Chinese cabbage. Bye. But, those who have tried it have seen that it not only makes it possible to eat a vegetable that is grown from summer to autumn, and even winter, but that it also has multiple properties.
Therefore, this time we are going to give you the keys so that you can grow bok choy at home very easily. More considering its rapid growth. Go for it?
Contents
The properties of bok choy
First of all, we have already told you about the multiple properties of bok choy. However, we haven’t told you what they are and you may not know them (and that’s why you still don’t dare to plant them in your garden).
You should know that bok choy is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6, C and K. But it does not only contain vitamins, but you can find many more: calcium, potassium, iron, manganese and magnesium, among others .
Nutritionally, it is very low in calories and carbohydrates, but it contains fiber and lots of water.
This vegetable will help you improve your muscles and also your nerves. It reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems, such as coronary heart disease or cerebrovascular problems.
It is also a good source of antioxidant components (the one named before vitamin C). But it is that it also protects the body from free radicals. To this must be added its anti-inflammatory effect and the prevention of cancer itself.
Now, that doesn’t mean you have to overindulge in your intake. Indeed, it is not recommended for people who have thyroid problems and in excess it can come into conflict if they take anticoagulants.
How to Grow Bok Choy
If after reading the properties of bok choy you consider it a food that you should introduce into your diet, nothing better than coming from the garden to your table, right?
Growing bok choy in an urban or domestic garden is not difficult, quite the contrary. You just need to consider a series of steps that will help you achieve the best result.
And what are these steps? We show them to you.
Choose the variety of bok choy
Bok choy, or pak choi, as you can also find it in other places, is actually not just one. There are many varieties and depending on the region where you live, what you want to obtain, etc. you have to choose one or the other.
The bok choy variety is characterized by the fact that the stems are white and generally wide, with oval and green leaves.
However, you may also come across purple bok choy, or pak choi, which differ from others in that the stems are green and the leaves take on a darker hue.
Another of the most cultivated is tatsoi, a variety of bok choy with thin, white stems, while the leaves are smaller and darker green.
Choose where you will put your garden
The next step you need to control is the location of your garden. In general, bok choy needs a very nutritious growing medium that also has good drainage. Additionally, they need 3-5 hours of direct sunlight per day. At first it can be in partial shade so that the sun does not burn too much, but later you will have to make it stronger.
Therefore, we recommend that you place it either in pots (in this case a planter is preferable) or, if you have a garden, in a hole where you can protect it from drafts and have plenty of light and a few hours of direct light. sun.
Plant the bok choy seeds
The next step you will need to do is plant. And in this case, you have two options:
Plant the seeds. This is the first way and the one that many run. These, if they germinate well, can mean that in just 45 to 60 days you can already harvest some. However, you should keep in mind that there is a high probability that the seeds will eventually germinate.
Plant young seedlings. This is the one we recommend the most because you will avoid having to see if the seeds are germinating or not and you will also shorten the harvesting days somewhat.
In the first case, together with the seeds, you will have to sow them 0.5-1 cm deep (as you can see, very shallow) because, being very small, they cannot be too deep to germinate.
Cover with a thin layer of soil and spray with water to keep the soil moist. This is important because it is what will help them germinate.
Another option is to germinate them earlier, allowing them to spend about 24 hours in water before planting them to speed up the process.
In the second case, with young seedlings, you need to transplant them into loose, well-drained soil. You must maintain a separation between the plants between 15 and 30 centimeters.
How to know if they took the plants
One of the biggest questions planting seedlings can ask is when can you stop worrying about them. And it’s easy in this case: when new leaves appear. This way you will know that it is well adapted and that it will begin to develop and grow.
This is when you can start adding fertilizer to cover whatever needs the plant may need to thrive and grow.
caring for bok choy
Irrigation, lighting and especially the treatment of pests that can attack it (aphids, larvae, whiteflies, snails and slugs) will be your responsibility during harvest time. Quiet, because it won’t be much.
Harvest
45 to 50 days after planting bok choy, the plant will be mature and you can start harvesting.
To do this, you must take a knife and always cut the stem at ground level.
As you can see, growing bok choy is not difficult. And in exchange you can have a food with multiple health benefits. So go ahead and try it. Its flavor is very mild and resembles both cabbage and chard. Have you ever tried it?