This document provides guidance on pechay production. It describes pechay as an erect, biennial herb cultivated as an annual that is 15-30 cm tall with ovate leaves arranged spirally. It discusses pechay varieties, climatic requirements, and planting methods including direct seeding, transplanting, spacing, and mulching. It also covers fertilization, pest and disease management, and harvesting.

1. GUIDE TO PECHAY PRODUCTION
Pechay (Brassica rapa L. cv group Pak Choi) is an erect, biennial herb,
cultivated as an annual about 15-30 cm tall in vegetative stage. Ovate leaves
are arranged spirally and spreading. The petioles are enlarged and grow
upright forming a subcylindrical bundle. Inflorescence is a raceme with pale
yellow flowers. Seeds are 1 mm in diameter and are reddish to blackish
brown in color.
Varieties
Black Behi; Hari Digma; Shin Kang
Gengis Khan; Shanhai No. 2
Climatic and Soil Requirements
Pechay can be grown from low to mid elevations throughout the year. Production
is best, however, during the dry season in sandy to clay loam soil, with a pH of
5.5-6.5.
Planting
A1-ha production area requires kg seeds.
Pechay can either be sown directly in soil or transplanted. Direct seeding is
carried out by broadcasting or by sowing in rows. Cover seeds to a depth of about
1 cm by raking or spreading additional topsoil. Water immediately after sowing.
Plant spacing should be 10 cm between plants and 20 cm between rows.
If transplanted, sow seeds initially in seedbeds. Transplant seedlings 2-3 weeks
after sowing at a distance of 10 cm between plants and 20 cm between rows.
Transplant preferably in the afternoon and water immediately. Mulch with grass
clippings or rice straw.

2. Fertilization
Apply seedlings with starter solution using urea (46-0-0) at the rate of 2 tbsp/gal
of water. Side-dress along the rows at the rate of 1 tbsp/plant one week after
transplanting.
Pest and Disease Management
Damping-off, soft rot and clubroot are the most important diseases of pechay,
while diamondback moth and aphids are the major insect pests. Spraying hot
pepper extract can control these pests. When seedlings begin to wilt, reduce
watering immediately. Uproot and burn disease-infected plants to prevent spread
of diseases. Cultivation is also necessary to minimize weeds.
Harvesting
Harvest as early as three weeks after planting or between 30-40 days after
sowing. Harvest preferably in the afternoon to minimize postharvest losses.
Upon harvesting, wash the plants, trim old leaves and remove roots. Grade
according to size and quality, and pack in strong rigid containers with holes at
the sides to allow aeration. Pack with the base of the plant to the sides of the
baskets. Maintain turgidity by lining the basket with paper.
Source: Pechay Production Guide Info Bulletin #161/2000 PCARRD –
darfu4b.da.gov.ph
Growing this plant is easy because this is the fastest vegetables you can harvest in
just a few days or weeks, more or less 45 days or seven weeks. The steps
in planting pechay are just too easy to follow.
So, what are the growth stages of pechay?
 Seed Phase
 Germinating Phase
 Seedlings Phase

3.  Harvesting Phase
 Old Plant Phase
 Flowering Phase
 Ending Phase
1. Seed Phase
This is the first phase of pechay, its the form of seeds. When you see
a pechay seeds, its appearance are color black and very small that you can not
see it when it falls to the ground. You can get and buy some pechay seeds in the
agriculture market. During this stage, the seeds will not move. Unless you start
to put it on the ground and apply some water.
2. Germinating Phase
This is the stage where the seeds are started to germinate. The seeds
begins to sprout and produce some small leaves and roots. When you have just
started to sow it on a seed tray, make sure that soil are moist. During this period,
it needs some moist soil. Making it moist it becomes faster the sprouting of roots
and little size leaves. But avoid too much water as it will rot.
3. Seedling Phase
This is the stage where a young plants show. When you see a seedling, it
has a small young leaves and it has a few inches height. During this period the
young vegetable needs enough water to produce more green leaves and
continues to grow its height.. You need also apply some fertilizer if the soil has
poor in nutrients. You need to care for it as pest and insect may attack.
The worms ( diamondback moth, Plutella xlostella , cabbageworm, Crocidolomia
pavonana or cutworm, Spodoptera litura are mainly your enemy. The worms will
surely eat the fresh leaves and if you not prevent it, they will destroy your garden.
So better to plan out when it comes.
4. Harvesting Phase

4. This is the stage where you can now begin to harvest. How to know if you
can harvest pechay? You can harvest when the leaves attain its maturity or when
it is 45 days or seven weeks old. Going to this stage you need to apply more
water in the morning and in the afternoon. Pechay needs a lot of water to
produce a healthier and more green leaves. You can harvest pechay in two ways.
One is get some older leaves per plant, two is uprooted the plants and get all the
leaves.
5. Old Plant Phase
This stage is when the pechay continues to grow and the leaves started to
become dark green. When the plant shows that, the leaves and the stalk will
become harder. You can see that it change its color. Mainly it continues to
become older.
6. Flowering Phase
This stage is when the pechay begins to show some flowers. When the
pechay is older enough, it will begins to show flowers. The flowers will turn to
seeds after that phase. The pechay flowers continue to grow more inches from
the leaves.
7. Ending Phase
This stage is when the pechay begins to dry. This will make the vegetables
to turn the leaves to yellow, turn to brown and it will fall to the ground soon. It
will decay and gone after.

5. The life cycle of pechay has its own apperance and characteristics
Seeds - are the first stage of life cycle of pechay.
Germinating- the seed start to sprout some roots and show some tiny leaves
germinating takes 3 to 5 days.
Seedlings
Young vegetable
Mature vegetable
Flowering
Seed producing
Drying of plants
Preparing Pechay Seedlings:
Materials to be Used:
- Old plastic ware
- Stick
- Soil
- Banana leaves
- Pechay seeds
Step-By-Step:

6. 1.) Form the banana leaves like a small pot.
2.) Use the stick to pin the banana
leaves to avoid loss. Create more.
3.) Pile the banana leaf pot in the old plastic
ware.
4.) Put soil in the banana leaves pot you
made.
5.) Place the pechay seeds in the banana
leaf pot.
6.) Pour few water in the banana leaf to
wet the soil also the seeds.