Purple Bok Choy
Purple Lady Bok Choy is a striking heirloom from China that brings both visual drama and culinary delicacy to the garden. Its plum-colored, antioxidant-rich leaves stand out against the typical greens of most kitchen gardens, while the compact plants reach just 6 to 7 inches tall at maturity. Ready to harvest in just 45 days, this baby bok choy delivers a sweet, rich flavor that shines whether you wok it, grill it, or toss it raw into salads. The refined, uniform heads are as much at home in a tidy vegetable bed as they are displayed at a farmers market stand.
Full Sun
Moderate
?-?
7in H x ?in W
Annual, Biennial
Moderate
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The plum-colored leaves of Purple Lady Bok Choy are genuinely eye-catching, packed with antioxidants and arranged in neat, uniform heads that feel almost ornamental. Its speed to harvest (45 days) combined with a sweet, rich flavor makes it one of the best-performing baby bok choy strains available. The compact 6 to 7 inch height means you can tuck multiple plants into tight spaces, and their polished appearance translates beautifully from garden to table.
Purple Lady shines in high-heat cooking, where its sweet flavor intensifies in the wok or on the grill. The tender leaves are also excellent raw in salads, where the purple color provides striking visual contrast. Its compact size and mild flavor make it accessible for a range of preparations, from quick stir-fries to slower braised dishes.
You can start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost, using soil temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit to encourage germination. Transplant seedlings outdoors once they've developed their first true leaves and the soil has warmed.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days before transplanting. Move them outdoors once nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Space transplants 1 inch apart in rows, and ensure soil is moist at planting time to minimize transplant shock.
Direct sow seeds outdoors once soil temperatures reach 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow thickly along a row and thin to 1 inch spacing as seedlings develop their first true leaves. Direct sowing often results in faster, sturdier plants.
Purple Lady Bok Choy reaches harvest readiness in approximately 45 days from sowing. Harvest when the heads are 6 to 7 inches tall and the leaves are fully developed but still tender. Cut plants at the base with a sharp knife, or pull the entire plant including roots. Young, smaller plants offer a more delicate texture, while waiting until the head is fully sized delivers maximum yield. Morning harvest, after any dew has dried, helps preserve crispness.
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“This variety hails from China, where bok choy cultivation spans centuries as a staple brassica. Purple Lady represents a refined strain selected for its distinctive color, uniformity, and flavor quality. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, which preserves and celebrates traditional varieties, considers it one of the best available strains and has championed its availability to home gardeners in North America and beyond.”