How to Grow Bok Choy in New Zealand

A quick crop best in the cooler half of the year as it bolts in heat. Harvest whole heads or pick outer leaves. Cover seedlings to keep white butterfly off.

When to plant bok choy in New Zealand

Timing is everything in New Zealand, where the warm north and the cooler south are weeks apart. Sow or plant in these months for your region:

Region	When to sow or plant
Northland	February, March, April, August, September, October
Auckland	February, March, April, August, September, October
Waikato & BoP	February, March, April, August, September, October
Wellington	February, March, April, August, September, October
Nelson & Marlborough	February, March, April, August, September, October
Canterbury	February, March, April, August, September, October
Otago & Southland	February, March, April, August, September, October
Central Otago	February, March, April, August, September, October

Best bok choy varieties for NZ

Pak Choi (Canton / White Stem) — Classic white-stemmed pak choi for stir-fries, quick from seed. (Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds)
Shanghai Green (Baby) — Compact green-stemmed baby type, tender and good harvested whole. (Kings Seeds, Mr Fothergill's NZ)

How to grow bok choy

Space plants about 20cm apart.
Sow seed around 0.5cm deep.
Position: part shade.
Ready to harvest in roughly 50 days.
Seeds germinate in about 8 days.

Companion planting

Grow bok choy near: Beetroot, Celery.

Pests and problems

Watch for: White butterfly, Slugs, Aphids. See our NZ pest and disease guide for organic control.

For a calendar tuned to your exact region, see the New Zealand planting guides or the Bok Choy plant page.

FAQ

When is the best time to plant bok choy in New Zealand?

In the warm north (Auckland, Northland) sow in February, March, April, August, September, October. Cooler regions plant a little later. Check the table above for your region.

Where can I buy bok choy seeds or plants in NZ?

Try Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds, Mr Fothergill's NZ.