Bopak Pak Choi is a compact Chinese cabbage that reaches harvest in just 40 days, delivering tender, succulent greens in a fraction of the time most vegetables demand. This cool-season crop thrives in hardiness zones 3 through 11 and tolerates frost, making it one of the most adaptable brassicas for spring and fall gardens across North America. Its tight, upright growth habit means you can tuck multiple plants into tight spaces, harvesting individual leaves as needed or waiting for full maturity. Direct sow after frost danger passes in spring, or plant in mid-summer for a reliable fall crop that actually improves in flavor as temperatures cool.
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3-11
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Moderate
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At just 40 days to maturity, Bopak reaches the table faster than most greens, yet its compact form means you can grow multiple plants in the space a standard cabbage would occupy. The real appeal lies in its frost tolerance and ability to perform across zones 3 through 11, paired with flexible harvesting, where you can pick outer leaves continuously or wait for the entire head to develop. Its preference for spring and fall growing seasons aligns with its peak flavor, and unlike many pak choi varieties, it resists the bolting that temperature swings trigger in young plants, though vigilance during fluctuating weather still pays off.
Bopak Pak Choi is harvested for its tender leaves and mild stalks, which are eaten raw in salads, quickly stir-fried to preserve their crisp texture, or braised as a simple side dish. Both whole young plants and individual outer leaves are edible, offering flexibility depending on your kitchen needs and harvest timing.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds 4 weeks before your anticipated transplant date for a spring crop, or time your indoor sowing for July or August transplants in fall. Maintain soil temperature between 55 and 70°F for reliable germination.
Transplant spring seedlings after the danger of frost has passed. For fall crops, transplant seedlings sown in July or August into the garden at their optimal timing.
Direct sow spring crops after the danger of frost has passed. For fall crops, direct sow from July through mid-August to ensure plants mature before hard freeze arrives.
Harvest individual leaves starting with the largest outer leaves as soon as they reach usable size, or wait for the entire head to mature at 40 days from direct seeding. Harvest as soon as plants reach maturity to prevent bolting, which becomes more likely if mature plants remain in the garden during temperature fluctuations. Store harvested leaves promptly to maintain quality.
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