VegetableCabbage
Hotau Cabbage
Hotau Cabbage is a fast-growing hybrid pak choi bred for speed and heat tolerance, ready to harvest in just 30 to 39 days. This compact mini variety grows to a tidy 12 to 18 inches tall with remarkably uniform, plump petioles that give it a wide, fat appearance. It thrives across hardiness zones 2 through 10, making it adaptable to nearly every region, and its slow-bolting nature means you can plant it through late spring, summer, and fall for successive harvests of tender, delicious greens.
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
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
18in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Hotau lives up to its reputation as a speed crop, hitting maturity in just 30 to 35 days with virtually no bolting trouble even in warm weather. The compact habit (3 to 4 inches wide with stocky, full petioles) means it slides easily into tight garden spaces or containers, while its heat tolerance opens the door to summer planting when other greens would already be sending up flowers. This is the hybrid that lets you grow multiple crops in a single season without the frustration of premature bolting.
Common Uses
Hotau is grown for its tender leaves and meaty petioles, which are equally at home in stir-fries, soups, and fresh salads. The compact size and quick turnover make it ideal for harvesting young and whole, or for individual leaf picking as the plant matures. Its mild, slightly sweet character works beautifully in any preparation where you'd use bok choy or Chinese cabbage but want results in weeks rather than months.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Hotau seeds in garden soil once soil has warmed slightly in spring, and repeat plantings every 2 to 3 weeks through late summer and early fall for successive harvests. The warm-season habit means spring and fall plantings will mature fastest, though the variety's heat tolerance allows summer sowing where other greens struggle.
Harvesting
Hotau reaches maturity in 30 to 35 days when plants are compact and uniform, typically 3 to 4 inches wide with full, plump petioles. Harvest the entire head at soil level once it feels firm and fat, or pick individual outer leaves as needed starting when plants are 6 to 8 inches tall. The quick maturity means timing is important: harvest promptly at peak size before bolting begins, especially in warmer months.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica rapa var chinensis
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)CAN (I)GL (I)