When to plant or sow Pak choi?

Pak choi thrives in full sun or partial shade and prefers a fertile, moisture-retentive loam soil. Before sowing or planting, dig in plenty of well-rotted compost or manure to improve soil structure and water-holding capacity—this brassica is a fast grower and needs consistent moisture and nutrients from the start. The soil pH should ideally be neutral to slightly alkaline (around 6.5–7.5). You can sow pak choi directly outdoors or start it in modules for transplanting. For a spring crop, sow in April or May once the soil has warmed; for an autumn harvest, sow in July or August. Direct sowing works well: make shallow drills about 1 cm deep and sow seeds thinly, then thin seedlings to a final spacing of 25 cm between plants. If you're transplanting from modules, plant out at the same 25 cm spacing when seedlings have three or four true leaves. Pak choi is prone to bolting in long, hot days, so the July and August sowings often perform better than late spring ones, maturing in the cooler conditions of early autumn. Avoid sowing in the height of summer unless you can provide shade and ample water. Immediately after sowing or planting, water thoroughly to settle the soil around roots or seeds. Keep the bed consistently moist in the days that follow—pak choi has high water needs and any check in growth from dryness will reduce quality. A light mulch of compost around young plants helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, but keep it clear of the stems to avoid rot.