pak choi

[garyp]

Wondered if anyone has grown pak choi? It looks like an interesting veg. Would be interested to hear of good varieties available and advice on sowing/planting. Thanks

[garyp]

[jammyd]

Hi Gary, I grew some pak choi last year - can't remember the name, but it was a loose leafed variety.
It grew very easily - sown straight into the earth, and watered a coulpe of times a week. The only problem we had was with some sort of maggot in and around the root/base of the plant, which left many inedible   :(
Well, the leaves seemed okay, but I was too squeamish what with the maggots  :-X

Cheers,
james :)

[Mrs Ava]

hhhmmm...I have sown some in a tray to transplant when a touch bigger, but saved half the packet to sow direct.  They germinated within a couple of days and look like a cabbage crossed with a lettuce at the moment.   :-\  Maggots huh, could it have been something like the cabbage root fly thingy?  It is a war zone out there on the allotment - us virsus the beasties!  >:(

[cleo]

Hi There

There are several varieties available(see for example Suffolk Herbs) to provide crops throughout the growing season.  Some varieties are prone to `bolting` if grown in the warmest times but as the flower stems are also delicious that`s no great problem.

Is easy to grow by either sowing directly or from modules-not sure about tranplanting from seed trays though.

Stephan.

[cleo]

EJ -you got there first!!,they may be OK from trays,and like I said if they bolt eat the flower stems.

Stephan.

[Mrs Ava]

Cool, thanks Stephan, I will remember that.  As I said, I have kept some seed back to sow in situ, but I do like a back up.  Do the slugs like 'em by the way?

[cleo]

I have had no problems with slugs,but flea beetle can be a pain when the plants are babies.

Stephan.

[Beer_Belly]

I grew this last year and had a few maggot problems as well.

-B_B-

[Doris_Pinks]

Slugs and flea beetles love mine :-(  Have got some growing in my unheated greenhouse at the mo for salads, they seem to have a better chance in there, will be trying it outdoors again tho, perhaps with fleece! Have a great recipe for it stir fried with beef...........yum!!

[garyp]

Thanks for your replies. Yup I think this is one that I will be trying to grow. I noticed in the local supermarket it was placed in the section labelled 'exotic vegetables' with an exotic price as well, £1.15 for three plants ouch!!!
I have had a quick look in the seed catalogues there is one called 'Joi Choi' that seems to be recommended. It says its easy to grow and highly nutritious, sounds good to me!! :)

[Mrs Ava]

hmmmm interesting Doris.  I may keep some back in my greenhouse then for ease of salad picking.  I was planning to have a huge pot in there with a couple of different lettuce/salad leaves just so they are right handy for me.  ;D

b*gger....it has just started to rain!  Nuts!

[budgiebreeder]

Undecided where to put this but thought that it would follow on.put pak choi in a basin with a drop of water,cover with cling film and pop in the microwave for 2/3/4minutes depending on size.(Seasoned of course)

[budgiebreeder]

I got a packet of "Oriental Cooking " sseeds this morning from Wilkos which may interest those of you who want to try.It has Spring Onions,Michihili Cabbage,Pak Choy,Cayenne Pepper and WongBok.
Sounds a nice collection to me.

[Doris_Pinks]

like the sound of wongbok! Got a certain ring to it :)

[tim]

Flea beetle - oh, yes!
So - fleece them out, before they fleece you?
The joy of Chinese veg is that they go right into the frosts. = Tim

[MagpieDi]

Hi Gary. Last year I grew flowering purple pak choi hon tsai tai [/b] !!  :) (Chiltern Seeds)
Easy germination, and this variety is designed to bolt easily to produce lots of tasty flower stalks. Stir fry with a sprinkle of Lee & Perrins, yummy!
Have loads of seed left, if you'd like to try some just send me your address.

[garyp]

done a bit more investigation and there is a book that is being recommended called 'Oriental Vegetables' by Joy Larkham. I wonder if anyone has come across this at all?

[tim]

- she's great! = Tim