50-day Choy Sum is a tender Chinese vegetable from the Brassica rapa family that matures in just 50 days from seed, making it one of the quickest greens to reach your table. Most gardeners grow it for the nutritious leafy greens, but those in the know chase the real prize: the tender, delicious edible stalks and flowers that emerge as the plant develops. This frost-hardy heirloom thrives in cool to moderate temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and reaches 12 to 18 inches tall, fitting neatly into beds, containers, or succession plantings throughout the season.
Full Sun
Moderate
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18in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The flowers and stalks of 50-day Choy Sum are considered a gourmet delicacy by experienced growers, offering a tender texture and exceptional flavor that sets it apart from ordinary greens. You can sow it in spring for early summer harvest or in late summer for a fall crop, and it germinates reliably within 10 to 14 days. At just 4 to 6 inches of spacing and needing only 4 to 6 hours of sunlight daily, it fits into tight garden corners and shaded spots where other crops struggle. The combination of speed, versatility, and those prized edible flowers makes this a favorite among gardeners seeking something beyond standard leafy greens.
The tender stalks and flowers are harvested and used in stir-fries, steamed whole as a side dish, or briefly blanched and served with simple sauces. While the leaves are nutritious and flavorful, growers specifically cultivate this variety for those prized flowering stems, which have a delicate, slightly sweet character that elevates simple preparations into something memorable.
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You can start 50-day Choy Sum indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your desired transplant date, sowing at 1/4 inch depth in seed-starting mix kept at 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings will emerge in 10 to 14 days and should be ready to harden off and transplant outdoors once they develop two true leaves.
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days by exposing them to increasing periods of outdoor light and wind. Transplant outdoors when nighttime temperatures consistently remain above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, spacing plants 4 to 6 inches apart in prepared beds.
Direct sow seeds outdoors 1/4 inch deep in prepared beds after all danger of hard frost has passed, or in late summer for a fall crop. Keep soil consistently moist until germination occurs in 10 to 14 days.
Begin harvesting 50-day Choy Sum around day 50 from sowing, though you can start picking individual outer leaves and stems earlier. The most prized harvest comes when the flowering buds and tender stems have developed but before flowers fully open; the stems should feel crisp and tender when gently bent. Cut the entire plant at soil level once the stem cluster has thickened, or harvest individual outer stems by cutting 2 to 3 inches above the base to encourage continued production.
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