Little Shanghai Green is a true mini pak choi bred for speed and compact growth, reaching harvest in just 37 days. This F1 hybrid brings authentic Chinese vegetable gardening into small spaces, producing tender, mild greens with a delicate stem that cooks down quickly. Cold-tolerant enough to thrive in spring and fall, it's equally at home in the South's winter gardens or tucked into a high tunnel in colder regions. The compact growth habit means you can space plants just 6 inches apart, letting you grow dozens from a small bed.
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Moderate
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Low
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At just 37 days from seed to harvest, Little Shanghai Green rewards impatient gardeners with quick results. The hybrid vigor means vigorous, uniform growth and reliable production, while the true mini size keeps it from overwhelming the kitchen or the garden space. Sow from early spring straight through midsummer, or in fall across most of the country, making it one of the most flexible greens you can plant.
These tender greens are harvested young and cooked whole or in halves, their mild flavor and quick-cooking stems making them perfect for stir-fries, light sautés, or steaming. The compact size means less trimming and faster preparation than full-sized pak choi, so they suit both quick weeknight meals and restaurant-style cooking.
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Start seeds in 128 or 72-cell trays 2 to 4 weeks before you plan to transplant. Germination temperatures should be between 55°F and 70°F. Keep seedlings growing vigorously and avoid letting them become rootbound or stressed, as this triggers premature bolting. Watch seedling temperature carefully; exposures to cold below 50°F over multiple nights can cause unexpected bolting.
Plant out seedlings before they become rootbound or show stress. Space plants 6 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart. Hardened-off seedlings can go into the garden as soon as soil is workable in spring, and in the South, fall transplants often outperform spring plantings.
Direct sow from early spring through midsummer by sowing seed directly into prepared beds at 6-inch spacing. In mild climates, suitable for fall direct seeding as well.
Harvest before flowering, ideally at 37 days or when plants reach their compact, mature size. Cut the entire plant at the base or harvest individual outer leaves if you prefer a longer harvest window. The mild, tender texture is best captured when plants are young and before any flower buds form.
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