When to Plant Pak Choy (Bok Choy) in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Sow February to April. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is February.

Also called bok choy, pak choi, buk choy.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Pak Choy (Bok Choy) guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Pak Choy (Bok Choy)

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Pak choy (also spelled bok choy, pak choi) is a fast-growing, non-heading Chinese cabbage with thick, crisp stems and dark green leaves. It matures in 5-7 weeks, making it one of the quickest brassica crops. Available in standard white-stemmed, green-stemmed (Shanghai), baby, and purple varieties. Essential in Asian cooking and increasingly popular in Australian home gardens.

Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D - - - - - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 11.2°C (optimal range: 10–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Pak Choy (Bok Choy) in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

October-March. Fast maturity suits short highland seasons.

Soil
Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost and aged manure. Needs moisture-retentive but not waterlogged soil.
pH Range
6.0-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun in cool weather. Part shade essential in warm zones to prevent bolting.
Spacing
25cm apart, 35cm between rows
Watering
Consistent moisture critical. Water deeply every 2-3 days. Drought stress triggers bolting. Drip irrigation ideal. Morning watering preferred.

Companion plants: Celery, Onion, Chamomile, Dill, Marigold

Avoid planting near: Other brassicas if disease present, Strawberry

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Pak Choy (Bok Choy)

Recommended Varieties

  • Baby Bok Choy
  • Shanghai Green

Key Challenges

  • Frost damage
  • Short season
  • Slow growth in cool conditions

Pro Tips

  • Fast maturity (5-6 weeks) makes this viable even in short seasons
  • Grow in cold frame for extended season
  • Choose baby varieties for quickest harvest

Harvesting Pak Choy (Bok Choy)

When ready: Baby bok choy: 15-20cm tall (4-5 weeks). Full size: 25-35cm with thick, firm stems (6-8 weeks). Stems should snap crisply when bent.

How to harvest: Cut entire plant at soil level with sharp knife. Or harvest outer leaves/stems individually for cut-and-come-again. Harvest in cool of morning.

Where to next

What pak choy costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this September: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

The pest most likely to find your pak choy: Cabbage White Butterfly.

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Common Questions About Pak Choy (Bok Choy)

When do you plant pak choy in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does pak choy grow all year round in Canberra?

No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Feb to Apr. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

What else is pak choy called?

Pak choy is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it bok choy, pak choi, buk choy. Same plant, same growing advice.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.