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Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
Also called Field Mustard, Turnip, Bird's Rape, Rape, Rape Mustard, Wild Mustard, Wild Turnip
Bok choy is a leafy Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) grown for its green leaves and pale bulbous stalks, which do not form a head. The key to growing it is fertile, moist soil and keeping it cool, since heat or drying out causes bolting.
Bok choy (American English, Canadian English, and Australian English), pak choi (British English, South African English, and Caribbean English) or pok choi is a type of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) cultivated as a leaf vegetable to be used as food. Varieties do not form heads and have green leaf blades with lighter bulbous bottoms instead, forming a cluster reminiscent of mustard greens. Its flavor is described as being between spinach and water chestnuts but slightly sweeter, with a mildly peppery undertone. The green leaves have a stronger flavor than the white bulb.
Chinensis varieties are popular in southern China, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Originally classified as Brassica chinensis by Carl Linnaeus, they are now considered a subspecies of Brassica rapa. They are a member of the family Brassicaceae.
Bok choy prefers fertile, well-draining soil, high in organic matter with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Amend with compost or well-rotted manure before planting. It is a heavy feeder, especially nitrogen, and needs consistently moist soil throughout the season. Drying out or temperatures above 70° Fahrenheit (21 °C) will trigger bolting. Ideal temperature range is 55° to 70° Fahrenheit and most varieties mature in 30 to 60 days.
The raw vegetable is 94% water, 3% carbohydrates, 1% protein and less than 1% fat (table). In a reference amount of 100 grams (3.5 oz), raw bok choy provides 20 calories of food energy, and is a rich source (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV) of vitamin C, while providing folate in a moderate amount (table).
Abyssinian mustard · Mustard · Zha cai · India mustard · Rutabaga · Rapeseed · Tatsoi · Rhamphospermum nigrum · Gai lan · Cauliflower · Cabbage · Brussels sprout
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Bok choy by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
