Bok Choy vs Napa Cabbage: Stalks Plus Heads
Bok choy vs napa cabbage comes down to stalks versus heads. Both are forms of Brassica rapa. University of Minnesota Extension says napa forms a tall, dense, barrel shaped head of pale thin leaves. Bok choy grows an upright clump of dark green leaves on very thick white or light green stalks.
The short answer
Bok choy is a stalked clump and napa is a dense head. University of Minnesota Extension says napa produces a tall barrel shaped head of pale leaves. Bok choy grows dark green leaves on very thick stalks. It matures quicker than napa and can be harvested before head formation. Both are fall crops in Minnesota.
How do they look different?
University of Minnesota Extension says napa cabbage, Brassica rapa pekinensis, produces a tall, dense, barrel shaped head. Its leaves are pale, thin and tender.
Bok choy, also called pak choi, is Brassica rapa chinensis. It grows an upright clump of dark green leaves, each with a very thick white or light green stalk.
Clemson Cooperative Extension says Chinese cabbage heads may be very upright and tall, called Michihili types. Napa types are round and barrel shaped.
Which matures faster?
University of Minnesota Extension says Chinese cabbage takes about two months to mature. An early July planting will be ready before a hard freeze.
The same source says bok choy is quicker to mature and can be harvested before head formation. You can also pick a few leaves at a time.
NC State Extension says pak choi plants mature in about 60 days. They can be picked at stages from young to mature, one leaf at a time or the whole head.
| Trait | Bok choy | Napa cabbage |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Upright clump of thick stalks | Dense barrel shaped head |
| Leaves | Dark green | Pale plus thin |
| Maturity | Quicker, about 60 days | About two months |
| Spacing | 6 inches | 18 inches |
Source: University of Minnesota Extension plus NC State Extension.
Do they need the same care?
University of Minnesota Extension says both need well drained yet moisture retentive, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Both need steady water and nutrients as they grow.
Spacing varies. NC State Extension says to space pak choi plants 6 inches apart, while Clemson says to thin napa types to 18 inches apart.
Minnesota says sow seed one fourth to one half inch deep. A row cover protects plants from insects, wind and cold during the first weeks of growth.
How to: step by step
- Choose bok choy for stalks or napa for heads.
- Plan a fall crop to limit bolting.
- Sow seed one fourth to one half inch deep.
- Thin bok choy to 6 inches and napa to 18.
- Cover seedlings early on with a row cover.
- Harvest heads promptly at a usable size.
Troubleshooting
Plants bolting: cold spring nights. Sow for fall.
Seedlings damaged: insects or wind. Add a row cover.
Bitter leaves: bolting. Harvest promptly.
For related reading see cannabis leaf anatomy, companion plants when growing marijuana plus frost damage on cannabis. Kind Seed Co also stocks cannabis seeds.
Sources
- Growing Chinese cabbage plus bok choy in home gardens, University of Minnesota Extension
- Brassica rapa Pekinensis Group (Chinese or napa cabbage), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Brassica rapa Chinensis Group (bok choy plus relatives), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Cabbage plus Chinese cabbage, Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC
FAQ
Can bok choy be harvested young?
Yes. University of Minnesota Extension says you can harvest bok choy a few leaves at a time rather than waiting for the whole head to mature. NC State Extension says pak choi can be picked at stages from young to mature, either one leaf at a time or the whole head.
Which is more suited to fall gardens?
Both. University of Minnesota Extension calls Chinese cabbage and bok choy fall crops in Minnesota. Clemson Cooperative Extension says Chinese cabbage is ideally sown in late summer and fall rather than spring. NC State Extension says pak choi tolerates light frost, so it can survive late fall plantings.
Do they need full sun?
NC State Extension says pak choi grows well in full sun to partial shade in amended, moist, well drained soil. It says napa cabbage grows 1 to 2 feet tall in full sun in fertile, amended, well drained moist soil. Give napa the sunnier spot if space is limited.
Why do spring plantings bolt?
University of Minnesota Extension says late spring frosts or more than a week of nights below 50 degrees F make bolting likely once warm weather returns. Clemson says spring sown plants may bolt after frost or a long period of cold nights. Bolting stops leaf growth.
Can bok choy grow in containers?
NC State Extension says pak choi can be grown in containers of at least 1 gallon with a depth of 20 inches. Bury seeds a quarter to half inch deep. In the ground, space or thin plants to 6 inches apart. Plants mature in about 60 days.
