Monday, July 12, 2010

Pak Choy adding more leaves



pak choy in deep container.

pak choy in shallow container
close-up of baby pak choy

earlier batch of pak choy



1st posting on pak choy serial:  Pak Choy stage by stage.

Week 1 ~ first pair of leaves
Week 2 ~ second pair of leaves

The variety I am growing now is the white stemmed Pak Choy. The other is green stemmed, which I have grown before but give it a rest for the moment.  I notice the resilience of white stemmed pak choy seeds. The old seeds, the leftover seem to sprout easily. But the success rate of germinating green stemmed pak choy is  much lower now with older seeds.

The plants had let out the second pair of leaves after about a week being transplanted.  Every single seedlings continue growing, some at a faster rate. The roots are fibrous and shallow, therefore water does not have to deep. To give them a little bit of cooler environment, peat soil is spread in thin layer on top. Peat soil has the ability to absorb and retain water. Nutrients are released slowly to the soil below as peat soil slowly decompose.

The earlier batch of pak choy is growing and about to be pulled out. I read somewhere about a technique called Cut and Come Again. I am going to give it a try but not with this batch...



bangchik

13 comments:

  1. I love Pac Choi, but I have never grown it. Space is kind of a premium at my garden. Maybe next year.

    Jen

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  2. Is this like a lettuce? I have never had it before.

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  3. i bet it is the same as what we call here in the u.s. "bok choy." looks good! thanks for visiting garden fool!

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  4. You have reminded me that even though my garden is at its most productive, I need to plant seeds now to keep me going through Autumn and Winter.

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  5. Muddy Boot Dreams... Space is premium too at my place, but I love to squeeze Pak Choy in. This vegetable grow well here.

    Melissa... nothing like lettuce. It goes by many names; pak choy, bok choy, sawi lobak etc. We don't eat pak choy as salads, but cooked or fried.

    Em.... Bok choy is its other name.

    Aaron... It will take a month or so develop fully.

    Matron.... Gardening in your place is governed by the four seasons. We just plant anytime we like. Container gardening is most versatile because we can avoid rain and scorching sun.

    Have a nice day,
    Bangchik.

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  6. Nice! Yours are so quick to produce the second set of leaves. For some reason I am finding all my seedlings take ages to get to this stage... am wondering whether they are lacking an essential nutrient, or whether it's a temperature issue...

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  7. Vtg... If I can suggest to you, try to note down their progress on weekly basis. I just feel that what you consider as "ages", is actually a week. I have trouble with lettuce at germination. Too long a wait, in the end I stop looking. Nothing appear in the end. I fail germinating lettuce so far..
    Thanks, Bangchik.

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  8. Your pak choy looks really healthy and deliciously crunchy. You must be looking to harvest them! Can't wait to see your post on that.
    (my little potted garden)

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  9. I like pak choi grilled with shrimps.
    Now I gotta very busy to harvest summer vegetables such as tomatoes and egg-plants.

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  10. Kitchen flavours.... That earlier batch of pak choy is almost ready to be harvested. Pests normally come around and feast on slightly aging vegetables. It is best we pick them first before the pests. Yes, I will do a post on that.

    Takaeko.... Fresh pak choy is best served as stir fried. Sometime kakdah boil them as soup with shrimps to heighten the flavour. Good luck to your gardening amd harvest.

    Cheers, BANGCHIK.

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  11. Is this the same as Bok choy?

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  12. I will document it better next time! I definitely remember my cabbage was still at the first leaf stage after 6 weeks because the pack said I should have started harvesting!!

    I recall reading that lettuce needs cool temperatures for germination (as does celery- have you had any success with that?) The first ref I can easily locate for this is here http://humbleseed.com/pdf/producer/BlackSeededSimpsonLeafLettuce.pdf
    Seems like it can germinate in refrigerator temperatures, so maybe that would work? Hoever, lettuce bolts if the temperature is too warm....

    There are presumably varietal differences so might be worth checking a catalogue such as Digger's Club (if there is not a closer-to-home equivalent) to get tips for varieties for warmer climates (guessing you would be Brisbane or Darwin climate equivalent?)

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  13. Rosey..... Yes, a plant by many names; pak choy, bok choy, sawi putih etc.

    Vtg..... I did a regular post on cabbage as the plants add one after another leaf to their ballooning body. Pak choy is another attempt to document on a weekly basis. I agree with what you said, there are varietal differences. Thanks for the tips on lettuce. So next attempt on lettuce will see little pots all over the house; refrigerator, corner of bathroom, in a box, etc to create a good temperature range.

    Thanks, have fun.
    Bangchik.

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