Buk Choy vs Pak Choi

I've grown both individually in the past but as I use them for the same recipes etc I thought I'd just see how they went together in the same container. Previously I've planted all of my choy/choi seeds in their own container or spaced apart and as a result always end up with huge leaves very loosely bunched.

This time around I planted a heap of Buk Choy and Pak Choi seeds in the same container in order to keep the bunches more tightly packed and so I can 'cut and come again' with small leaves.

The Buk Choy and Pak Choi seed packets have very similar germination and maturity guidelines, however the Buk Choy seeds sprouted 5 days ahead of the Pak Choi seeds and have raced away as you can see:

In future I don't think I'll bother with Pak Choi.

Pak Choi 2010

Pak Choi
What: Seed (First generation seed from Floriana Easy Grow Pak Choi ).
Where: Large rectangular self-watering container.
When: March 2010.

Sown in: Recycled Potting Mix.
Fertiliser: Thin layer of RICHGROW: Organic Blood and Bone + Trace Elements & Sulphate of Potash 100mm below surface. Weekly application of YATES: Multi-Nutrient Plant Food with Seaweed at 5ml/L.

Advertised Germination: Unknown
Actual Germination: 12 days.

Advertised Maturity: 6-7 weeks.
Actual Maturity: Picked as young leaves from 5 weeks.

10 April 2010

Bok choy on left and Pak Choi on the right as shown.

Have already produced two big loads of leaves for the dinner table and below is after the second harvest. No signs of Aphids yet!

29 April 2010

Returned home from a ten day holiday to find these decimated by caterpillars, The END.....

Pak Choi

Pak Choi
What: Seedling (Floriana Easy Grow Pak Choi).
Where: 2 x medium Black Pots, 4 x 3L juice bottle and 2 x 1.5L softdrink bottle.
When: May 2009.

Sown in: Top 100mm of Yates Premium Seed Raising Potting Mix, rest Yates Regular Potting Mix.
Fertiliser: Thin layer of RICHGROW: Organic Blood and Bone + Trace Elements & Sulphate of Potash 100mm below surface. Weekly application of YATES: Multi-Nutrient Plant Food with Seaweed at 5ml/L.

Advertised Germination: Seedling.
Actual Germination: Seedling.

Advertised Maturity: 6-7 weeks.
Actual Maturity: First leaves harvested in 4 weeks.

All plants infested with several types of Aphids.

Sprayed with MULTICROP: Pyrethrum + Garlic Insect Spray on 20th June 2009.

23 June 2009

27 July 2009

I decided to let the last one go to seed just to see if I am able to get any viable seeds out of it as they were all quite tasty and very easy to grow in small containers.

31 August 2009

It's gone to seed in a BIG way! I'm not too sure where the seeds are supposed to come from though as there is no obvious seed ball etc. built up behind where the flowers drop off.......?

19 September 2009

Applestar from http://www.helpfulgardener.com has the answer! That being that "with the mustard family like Pak Choy and Broccoli, those spindly things after flowers fall fatten up into pods and develop little round seeds inside". There were a couple of hornets buzzing about the flowers today so hopefully I'll get some viable seeds although seeing how fast and productive my Buk Choy is I might not need them....

I ended up getting a heap of seeds from this plant that I will plant once the sun returns!

15 November 2009