Bok Choy is considered by many to be the best Asian vegetable. It has a bitter taste that some find unbearable, but it is extremely beneficial to your health. This small green plant is full of nutrition, especially vitamin A, which helps strengthen the immune system, as well as beta carotene, which helps with eye vision and healthy skin. Bok Choy is used to make soups, sauces, dressings, and juice.
If you want to grow bok choy vegetables, it is important that you fertilize the soil with plenty of fertilizer. Four to six weeks prior to the first expected frost in your region, you could begin your indoor bok choy cultivation. (If you are not sure how to tell your last frost date, find out from your local library or by asking how to grow your favorite vegetable.) Cover the seedlings tightly to protect them until the temperatures are staying above fifty degrees Fahrenheit at nighttime and below 55 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. This is the perfect growing time to begin harvesting and cooking with the wonderful benefits of this healthy vegetable.
The best locations for growing bok choy are in full sun and partial shade. The good growing season is between April and May. Full sun is the optimum time to grow this type of vegetable because the leaves do not turn brown when the heat of summer hits. Partial shade is the best time of year to grow bok choy because during the cooler months the plant does not get as much heat from the sun. partial shade will help the plant grow its green leaves without getting burned by the sun’s rays.
After harvesting the leaves, clean off the entire plant using a scrubbing brush or a garden hose. Do not try to wash the leaves of your bok choy with soap as this will harm the leaves and will also damage the tender roots. Bok choy does not like strong odors so be sure to remove any strong smells before putting them in your compost pile. Bok choy prefers an oxygen rich soil, so you may want to consider planting these vegetables in well-aerated soil with lots of sunshine and good drainage.
When the Bok Choy gets to about two inches deep, separate the seeds from the leaves by snipping a small notch in the leaves. Keep the cut open about an inch deep to allow air to circulate through the seed. Once the seeds are fully exposed, lightly cover them with more dirt. Allow the seeds to settle for about a week before planting the Bok Choy in the newly prepared soil.
Many gardeners like to plant Bok Choy because of their dark green leaves that help protect plants from grazing pests like deer. However, Bok Choy is a fairly sensitive plant and some gardeners have reported having trouble growing the vegetable. In addition, Bok Choy is not known for having a long growing season. It can take four years before it starts growing and this means that you will need to replant the plants every few years. If you are dedicated to growing this vegetable, it is important that you be patient and be able to give the plant the time it needs to produce a larger and darker harvest.