Asian Greens Gardening

1. Asian Greens
Be it pak choi, bok choi, Chinese cabbage, tatsoi or
kailon (Chinese broccoli), everyone has a favourite
Asian green. Easy and quick to grow, Asian greens
should be in every Yummy Yard. Choi to the world…
it’s time to plant some Asian Greens! Wok On!
Position, Position, Position!
Asian greens all love full sun, except in parts of Australia with very hot summers. In these hot spots,
part shade is fine, so consider using some other plants, like beans and sweet corn, as ‘living shade’.
Or erect a shade tent.
Talking Dirty
A patch full of organic matter, like compost or well-rotted manure, will see these guys get a fine
start in life. When preparing the patch, remove any large stones to prevent misshapen greens! A free
draining soil is ideal, so try for a one part compost to three parts soil for happy Asian greens! Leave
about 20cm between each plant.
Feed Me!
Asian greens are best grown quickly for great flavour. So, in addition to a well prepared soil, a half
strength manure/compost tea fortnightly is ideal. Seaweed solution at planting time will ensure good
root development.
What about the Water?
Asian greens have shallow roots and will need frequent watering, especially in hot and/or windy
weather. Keep area well-mulched and test soil moisture regularly. Subsurface irrigation will work
best for all greens, so consider a system.

2. Pests and the Rest
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, but they’re not the Addams family. They’re snails, and they are
the biggest pest of Asian Greens (as are slugs to a lesser extent). Deter these little munching
machines before they eat all your super stir-fry stuff! My suggestion is coffee grounds spread around
your patch – a perfect solution as I love coffee and snails hate it! Failing that, set up a beer trap…
this is NOT my preferred solution, as I love beer way too much to give it to the snails. It does work
though, as do all the other tips in our snails factsheet.
Are We There Yet?
This varies dependant on the variety of Asian green, but, as a guide, pak and bok choi are ready to
harvest at around eight weeks, as are tatsoi. These three can have their outer leaves harvested
throughout the growing period, from about six weeks onwards. Kailon may take a little longer and
depending on the weather, can be harvested between 10-12 weeks. Chinese cabbage should be
treated the same as other cabbage varieties, and is generally ready for harvesting from 12 weeks
onwards.
Hot Tip
Try growing Asian greens from organic seed. There are heaps of varieties available and by sowing
just a few seeds at a time, your growing period can be spread out by months, which means a better
looking patch and more food.
Companion Planting
Suitable Companions: Beans, beetroot, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, marjoram, peas and
strawberries.
Unsuitable Companions: Parsley
For more awesome info on growing your own sustainable vegies and herbs at home, why not check
out the Yummy Yards book at our secure online shop.