VegetableCabbage
Taisai Cabbage
Taisai is a vigorous pak choi cultivar that grows distinctly taller than typical Chinese cabbage varieties, reaching 18 to 20 inches at maturity. The plant produces glossy green, spoon-shaped leaves paired with long, thick white petioles that are remarkably tender and crisp. Ready to harvest in just 50 to 59 days, this cool-to-warm season annual thrives across hardiness zones 2 through 10 and needs only full sun and fertile, well-draining soil to flourish.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained Loam, Tolerates Poor Soils
Growth Stats
20 in
Height
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
20in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The spoon-shaped leaves and substantial white stems set Taisai apart from more compact pak choi types, giving gardeners an unusually tall and elegant plant that looks as striking as it tastes. The tender, crisp petioles deliver the textural contrast home gardeners crave, while the vigorous growth habit means you're harvesting genuine armfuls rather than small nibbles. At 50 to 59 days to maturity, it bridges the gap between spring and summer crops, slotting seamlessly into either season's planting schedule.
Common Uses
Taisai is harvested for its tender leaves and petioles, which are best enjoyed fresh in stir-fries, salads, and quick-cooking preparations where their crisp texture and mild flavor shine. The long, substantial white stems can be separated from the leaves and cooked separately, offering flexibility in the kitchen.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening off, spacing them 18 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart once soil is workable in spring after the last frost.
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly in spring after the last frost date, or in mid-to-late summer for a fall crop. Plant in fertile, well-draining soil in full sun.
Harvesting
Harvest Taisai when plants reach full size at 50 to 59 days from planting, cutting entire plants at the base or removing outer leaves as needed. The glossy green leaves and long white petioles are ready when crisp and tender; younger plants can be harvested for baby greens if preferred.
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)