VegetableCabbage
Da Cheong Chae Cabbage
Da Cheong Chae is a hybrid pak choi that bridges two beloved Asian greens, combining the round, dark green leaves of tatsoi with the upright, compact growth of traditional pak choi. Ready to harvest in just 30-40 days, this cool-season annual grows 12-18 inches tall and thrives across hardiness zones 2-10 in full sun. You can harvest individual leaves continuously for salads or wait for the whole plant to mature for cooking, giving you flexibility in the kitchen. Its rich vitamin and mineral content makes it as nutritious as it is visually striking in the garden.
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
TypeRosette
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 genius of Da Cheong Chae lies in its dual personality: it offers the tender, round leaves you love in tatsoi with the upright, space-efficient growth habit of pak choi. At just 30-40 days to maturity, it's one of the fastest Asian greens you can grow. The dark green foliage is so attractive it works in flower beds as easily as in vegetable gardens, and the flexibility to harvest leaves piecemeal or take the whole plant means you control how you use it.
Common Uses
Harvest individual leaves throughout the season to add to fresh salads, or wait for the plant to fully mature and use the whole head for stir-fries, braising, and soups. The tender, mild leaves work beautifully in both raw and cooked applications, making it equally at home in a quick weeknight stir-fry as in a composed salad.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in spring as soon as soil is workable, or in late summer for a fall crop. Sow seeds directly into garden soil where you want them to grow.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting individual outer leaves once the plant is 4-6 inches tall, pinching them off at the base to encourage continued growth. For a full-plant harvest, wait until the rosette reaches full maturity at 30-40 days, when the leaves are dark green and the plant has reached 12-18 inches tall. Cut the entire plant at soil level with a sharp knife.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica rapa var chinensis
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Growth Habit
Rosette
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)CAN (I)GL (I)