How to Grow Bok Choy 'Joi Choi'
Brassica rapa chinensis 'Joi Choi'
Bok Choy 'Joi Choi' is a fast-growing brassica prized for its tender leaves and quick harvest time. Gardeners value this cool-season crop for its ability to tolerate light frost while delivering fresh greens in just under two months.
📷 Wikipedia: Brassica rapaStarting Bok Choy 'Joi Choi': indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Bok Choy 'Joi Choi' is not usually started indoors.
This plant is best started directly in the garden rather than indoors, as it thrives when sown outdoors 2 to 6 weeks before the last frost.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Sow seeds directly outdoors 2 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost, as this plant tolerates cold weather well. Press seeds lightly into the soil at a depth of about 1/4 inch. Germination typically occurs within 4 to 7 days, so keep the seedbed consistently moist until sprouts emerge.
Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart to ensure good air circulation and healthy growth. While this variety does not require trellising or special support, it demands high moisture levels; water regularly to maintain consistent soil dampness without waterlogging. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, feeding lightly if growth seems sluggish.
Watch for flea beetles, aphids, cabbage worms, and diamondback moths; use row covers or organic sprays to manage infestations early. Prevent clubroot, black rot, downy mildew, and white spot by ensuring good drainage and avoiding overhead watering when possible. Harvest outer leaves 45 to 50 days after sowing once the heads form, cutting them at soil level for a continuous supply.
When to Plant Bok Choy 'Joi Choi'
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | April – May | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 2 | April – May | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | January | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | January | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | January | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Bok Choy 'Joi Choi'
✓ Good companions
Help break up soil for shallow bok choy roots and don't compete for space or nutrients
Natural pest deterrent against aphids and cabbage worms with their onion-like properties
Attracts beneficial insects and provides pest control without competing for root space
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control cabbage worms and aphids
Provides ground cover, conserves moisture, and doesn't compete for nutrients
Act as trap crop for flea beetles and aphids, protecting bok choy from pest damage
Repels cabbage root maggots, aphids, and flea beetles with their strong sulfur compounds
Similar growing requirements, efficient space usage, and harvest times complement each other
✗ Keep away from
Create too much shade for bok choy which needs consistent sunlight for proper growth
Can harbor slugs and snails that damage bok choy leaves
Heavy feeders that compete for nutrients and may stunt bok choy growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
