VegetableCabbage
Dwarf White Stem Cabbage
Dwarf White Stem Cabbage is a compact Asian green that matures in just 40-49 days, making it one of the fastest crops you can grow. This heirloom variety, also known as baby bok choy or pak choi, produces glossy dark green leaves atop distinctive white, spoon-shaped petioles that give it its common name. Reaching only 12-18 inches tall with a 18-inch spacing requirement, it thrives in full sun across hardiness zones 2-10 and adapts equally well to cool seasons and warm weather, even tolerating heat in mild climates.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained Loam, Tolerates Poor Soils
Growth Stats
18 in
Height
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
18in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
The white spoon-shaped stems are unmistakable and beautiful, contrasting sharply with the dark glossy foliage that makes each plant look almost ornamental. What really sets this variety apart is its speed: you'll be harvesting tender, mild greens in just 40-45 days from seed. In subtropical areas, you can grow it year-round, cycling through multiple harvests in a single season without the typical bolting problems that plague other brassicas.
Common Uses
Dwarf White Stem Cabbage is primarily eaten fresh, whether lightly steamed, stir-fried, or added raw to salads and Asian noodle dishes. The entire plant is edible, from the tender white stems to the glossy leaves, and the whole head can be harvested young or individual outer leaves picked as needed. Its mild flavor and delicate texture make it especially suited to quick cooking methods that preserve the tender stems' natural sweetness.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in the garden where they will grow. Plant in cool to warm seasons for best results, adjusting timing based on your local climate.
Harvesting
Dwarf White Stem Cabbage reaches maturity in 40-49 days from seed. You can harvest the entire head when it reaches full size, or begin picking outer leaves once the plant is established, allowing the center to continue growing. For the most tender texture and mild flavor, harvest in the morning when stems are crisp and full of moisture.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica rapa chinensis
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)CAN (I)GL (I)
History & Origin
“Dwarf White Stem Cabbage belongs to the nai pe tsai or dwarf type of Asian greens, a classification that reflects centuries of cultivation and refinement in Asian agriculture. This heirloom variety carries the accumulated knowledge of generations who selected for the white petiole trait and the plant's compact, productive form. Its journey to Western gardens represents the growing appreciation for diverse Asian vegetables beyond the familiar heads of common cabbage.”