Monday, July 19, 2010

Pak Choy third update

pak choy in deep container

close-up of pak choy in deep container

pak choy in shallow container

close-up of pak choy in shallow container


1st posting on pak choy serial:  Pak Choy stage by stage.
2nd posting on pak choy serial: Pak Choy adding more leaves
3rd posting on pak choy serial: 
 
Week 1 ~ first pair of leaves
Week 2 ~ second pair of leaves
Week 3 ~ on average, 6 leaves. the leaves are increasing in size

I wasn't following closely on the growth of Pak Choy with previous attempts. After a while, things tend to be a little bit routine; water twice daily, put fertiliser, check for pests, until come a day when one decides to pull them out for dinner or something. Surprisingly doing serial on Pak Choy somehow quickens the waiting game. On the third post, I realise they really grow....

I think from now onwards, Pak Choy will not be aggressive to add more leaves. The plant will simply channel all energy and nutrient to let the leaves grow bigger. Of course to do that they need water and nutrients. Some readers are asking if Bak Choi is the same as Pak Choy. Yes, the plant goes by many names, including our local name sawi putih or lobak sawi....

So far the plants are growing happily without major disturbance from pest. A leaf was torn on one of the plants in the deep pot. Who did it?.... it doesn't look like grasshopper job...probably my own or kakdah fingers did that while babysitting the little plants.

A little bit about Cut and Come Again technique. 
Growing vegetables which can be harvested more than once is like winning the fresh vegetable lottery. Cut and come again vegetables are those which can be harvested at seedling, semi-mature and mature stages of growth. They can be sown directly in the garden plot in rows or used as under plantings for larger vegetables. Many may also be planted in containers. Most vegetables which fall under the heading of cut and come again are leafy greens. However, vegetables like squash and cucumbers can also be considered cut and come again. If these are harvested regularly, they continue to provide fruit over a very long period. (click:How to Harvest the Same Vegetable Multiple Times: Growing Cut and ...)

Cheers, happy gardening
~bangchik and kakdah

13 comments:

  1. We sowed some Pak Choy seed but it is flowering already even though the plants are tiny - not sure why this has happend!

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  2. Will they take really high temperatures? And do they need full sun? I'm trying to think of things to grow during the summer months.

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  3. Looking at the picture,, make me miss sowing pak choi. Maybe next month, it is too cold for Pak choi in Adelaide. It will just bolt to seed.

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  4. Assalamualaikum Bangchik, I love pak choy. It is amazing to learn how it is grown. But I do not think the pak choys we buy in the store are tendered with such loving care.

    Bangchik, this is me in a new space. Semoga Allah berkati usaha baru saya.

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  5. It's nice to see the veggies are growing well. Should be a good harvest in a couple of weeks time!

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  6. ~Green Lane Allotments
    So far pak choy follow standard growth pattern, they add new leaves and then concentrate on making the leaves bigger. Then they will flower. Stunted growth probably in your growth, or a special species. I have some experience with self seeding spinach in a container. The pot was so cramped that the spinach cant grow any bigger.., then suddenly they produce flower.

    ~Penny McCrea
    I have tried growing them on vegetable bed out in the open. They tolerate our tropical high temperature well.. but they will have a tough time with pests.

    ~Malay-Kadazan girl
    Good luck to your pak choi adventure next month. You can tell us more later...

    ~Aishah
    To see pak choy growing replicates what we have gone through with raising children, work, love, friendship etc. Things evolve with time. Care and Affection too play quite a role. But getting from store is a lot easier.. haha. Welcome with your new space...

    ~Aaron
    I think you probably have eaten pak choy somewhere... it's one of those sawi variety.

    ~Kitchen Flavours
    Thanks for the comment. It won't be too long. They will end up on a dinner plate in no time...

    Cheers, have a nice day.
    ~bangchik

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  7. I have just discovered this green and started growing it this year. I think maybe my kids might eat it someday.
    Your plants look healthy!

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  8. ~Rosey
    Thanks... I have seen your latest post on Pak Choy... that is another variety, with a larger stem or stalk. The one I am growing now will have white stem and larger leaves.
    ~bangchik

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  9. Bangchik, here they are called pechay, i think that also sounds pak choi. Maybe Mandarin or Fokien Chinese is the difference, hehe. BTW, aren't those vegies competing with too narrow spaces, they might not get big enough, compete for light!

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  10. ~Andrea
    Pechay sounds like pak choy. They are a little bit packed, but i just hope they will squeeze through.

    ~bangchik

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  11. Interesting to learn about this cut and come again pak choy. It makes me keen to try planting it.

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  12. J.C.
    I have done it with bayam or spinach...~bangchik

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  13. Wow, all of these comments are 11 years old. Wonder what y'all are now..

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