Oregon · Washington · Idaho

When to plant bok choy

Plant in the garden: Portland and Seattle Mar 1 – Apr 5; Spokane Apr 1 – May 6; Boise Mar 20 – Apr 24; Bend Apr 28 – Jun 2.

Bok choy is a Chinese cabbage that grows as a loose rosette of thick white or green stems with dark leaves rather than a tight head. It's stir-fried, steamed or added to soup, and baby bok choy is cooked whole or halved. Botanically it's the same species as napa cabbage and turnips, not round cabbage.

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Puts bok choy on your free plan, with dates for your town and a spot in your beds.

Difficulty: Easy
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Spacing: 6 to 10 inches apart
Planting depth: ¼ inch deep
Frost: Handles light frost
First harvest: About 45 days after planting

Bolts as days lengthen, so get spring sowings in early. Fall crops are the easiest.

Bok choy planting dates

Towns	Start seeds indoors	Plant in the garden	Plant again for fall
Portland, OR, Seattle and Tacoma, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 1 – Apr 5	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Spokane, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 17–31
Boise and Meridian, ID	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Bend and Redmond, OR	Mar 24 – Apr 7	Apr 28 – Jun 2	Jul 20 – Aug 3
Astoria, OR	Feb 18 – Mar 4	Mar 25 – Apr 29	Aug 20 – Sep 3

Dates for six main cities. For any of the other 80 towns, type it in the box at the top of the page or browse all towns.

Gresham, OR, Oregon City and West Linn, OR, Portland, OR, St. Helens and Scappoose, OR, Wilsonville and Canby, OR	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 1 – Apr 5	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Hillsboro and Beaverton, OR	Jan 29 – Feb 12	Mar 5 – Apr 9	Aug 20 – Sep 3

Corvallis and Albany, OR, Eugene, OR, Salem, OR	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 1 – Apr 5	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Cottage Grove, OR	Feb 6–20	Mar 13 – Apr 17	Aug 20 – Sep 3
McMinnville and Newberg, OR	Jan 28 – Feb 11	Mar 4 – Apr 8	Aug 20 – Sep 3

Ashland and Talent, OR	Feb 18 – Mar 4	Mar 25 – Apr 29	Aug 13–27
Grants Pass, OR, Medford, OR, Roseburg, OR	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 1 – Apr 5	Aug 20 – Sep 3

Astoria, OR, Brookings and Gold Beach, OR, Coos Bay and North Bend, OR, Newport and Lincoln City, OR, Tillamook, OR	Feb 18 – Mar 4	Mar 25 – Apr 29	Aug 20 – Sep 3

Bend and Redmond, OR	Mar 24 – Apr 7	Apr 28 – Jun 2	Jul 20 – Aug 3
Burns, OR	Mar 26 – Apr 9	Apr 30 – Jun 4	Jul 12–26
Klamath Falls, OR	Mar 24 – Apr 7	Apr 28 – Jun 2	Jul 24 – Aug 7
Lakeview, OR	Mar 19 – Apr 2	Apr 23 – May 28	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Madras, OR	Mar 16–30	Apr 20 – May 25	Aug 9–23
Prineville, OR	Mar 16–30	Apr 20 – May 25	Jul 28 – Aug 11

Baker City, OR	Mar 16–30	Apr 20 – May 25	Jul 21 – Aug 4
Enterprise and Joseph, OR	Mar 16–30	Apr 20 – May 25	Aug 6–20
Hermiston, OR	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 15–29
Hood River, OR	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 18 – Sep 1
John Day, OR	Mar 16–30	Apr 20 – May 25	Jul 24 – Aug 7
La Grande, OR	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 6–20
Ontario, OR	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 19 – Sep 2
Pendleton, OR, The Dalles, OR	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 20 – Sep 3

Bremerton and Port Orchard, WA, Everett, WA, Kent, Renton and Auburn, WA, Seattle and Tacoma, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 1 – Apr 5	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Olympia, WA	Feb 11–25	Mar 18 – Apr 22	Aug 19 – Sep 2
Shelton, WA	Feb 9–23	Mar 16 – Apr 20	Aug 20 – Sep 3

Anacortes, WA, Bellingham, WA, Friday Harbor and the San Juans, WA, Mount Vernon and Burlington, WA, Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 1 – Apr 5	Aug 20 – Sep 3

Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WA, Forks, WA, Long Beach and Ilwaco, WA	Feb 18 – Mar 4	Mar 25 – Apr 29	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Port Angeles, WA, Port Townsend, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 1 – Apr 5	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Sequim, WA	Feb 3–17	Mar 10 – Apr 14	Aug 20 – Sep 3

Centralia and Chehalis, WA	Feb 4–18	Mar 11 – Apr 15	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Longview and Kelso, WA, Vancouver, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 1 – Apr 5	Aug 20 – Sep 3

Chelan, WA, Wenatchee, WA	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Leavenworth, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 5–19
Omak and Okanogan, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 12–26
Winthrop and Twisp, WA	Feb 27 – Mar 13	Apr 3 – May 8	Jul 28 – Aug 11

Ellensburg, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 12–26
Ephrata and Quincy, WA, Walla Walla, WA	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Goldendale, WA	Mar 3–17	Apr 7 – May 12	Jul 31 – Aug 14
Moses Lake, WA	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 13–27
Sunnyside, Grandview and Prosser, WA	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 11–25
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 16–30
Yakima, WA	Feb 20 – Mar 6	Mar 27 – May 1	Aug 9–23

Colville, WA, Pullman, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 7–21
Spokane, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 17–31

Bonners Ferry, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 9–23
Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Sandpoint, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 3–17

Lewiston, ID	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 20 – Sep 3
Moscow, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 7–21

Boise and Meridian, ID, Emmett, ID	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 20 – Sep 3
McCall, ID	Apr 6–20	May 11 – Jun 15	Jul 8–22
Nampa and Caldwell, ID	Feb 13–27	Mar 20 – Apr 24	Aug 18 – Sep 1

Burley and Rupert, ID, Twin Falls, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 9–23
Idaho Falls, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 6–20
Pocatello, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Aug 16–30
Rexburg, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 30 – Aug 13
Salmon, ID	Mar 16–30	Apr 20 – May 25	Jul 30 – Aug 13

Bok choy year at a glance

Task	J	F	M	A	M	J	A	S	O	N
Start indoors	Jan	Feb
Plant			Mar	Apr			Aug	Sep
Harvest				Apr	May	Jun		Sep	Oct	Nov

Around Portland. Colder towns, especially east of the Cascades, run a few weeks later; the table above has your town's planting dates.

How to grow bok choy

Start seeds indoors on your city's dates in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden on your city's dates, 6 to 10 inches apart. If you plant seeds instead, sow them ¼ inch deep.
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Plant again on your city's dates for a fall harvest.
Harvest: Cut baby bok choy at about 6 inches tall, or whole heads at full size. Harvest before a flower stalk appears.

Growing bok choy in your part of the Northwest

The same plant behaves differently on the wet west side, the foggy coast and the dry, colder east side.

West-side valleys

Willamette Valley, Puget Sound, southern Oregon

Spring sowings tend to bolt as days lengthen, so the late-summer sowing for fall is usually more reliable. Slugs and flea beetles are the main pests.

Coast

Oregon and Washington coast

Cool summers suit bok choy, though spring plantings still bolt quickly in long June days.

East of the Cascades

Columbia Basin, Yakima, Boise, Spokane, north Idaho

Heat and long days make bok choy bolt fast. Sow for fall harvest in late summer and keep it watered.

High desert and mountain towns

Central Oregon, high eastern Oregon valleys, McCall, Salmon

Grow it in early summer or late summer. A sudden cold spell can make young plants bolt, so cover them on cold nights.

More bok choy varieties

More widely sold picks that do well somewhere in the Northwest. The tag says which part of the Northwest suits each one best.

Joi Choi

Hybrid, white stem · 45 days

Full-size heads with thick white stems and dark green leaves. Slow to bolt and tolerant of both heat and cold, it is one of the most reliable bok choys for spring or fall.

Both sides

Toy Choy

Baby, white stem · 30 days

A miniature that matures at about 4 to 6 inches, perfect for steaming whole. Its speed lets you get a spring crop in before long days trigger bolting.

Both sides

Mei Qing Choi

Baby, green stem · 45 days

A compact Shanghai-type with pale green stems and tender, mild leaves. It is notably slow to bolt, which helps with spring plantings in the Northwest.

Both sides

Black Summer

Hybrid, white stem · 45 days

Very dark green leaves on thick white stems, with good heat tolerance and bolt resistance. A good choice when you want to push a sowing later into spring.

Both sides

How much to grow

How many to plant

For a family of four, 6 to 10 plants every two to three weeks.

What to expect

One head per plant.

Storing the harvest

Keeps about a week in the fridge.

What to plant after bok choy

Around Portland, the bok choy harvest wraps up around June. These crops can still go into the same bed, and they come from a different plant family, which helps with rotation.

Portland dates. Pick your town at the top of the page for yours.

Key numbers

45–85°FSoil to sprout
6.0–7.5Soil pH
About 30–45Days to harvest
Bolting, flea beetlesBiggest risk

Top care tip: Keep the soil moist and harvest whole plants as soon as they size up, before they bolt.

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Soil and feeding

Bok choy grows fast and wants rich, moist soil with compost and a pH of about 6.0 to 7.5. Leafy crops like it need nitrogen, so mix in a balanced fertilizer at planting. Keep the soil evenly moist; dry soil makes stems stringy and pushes plants toward flowering. Space according to the size you want: closer for baby bok choy like Toy Choy, wider for full heads like Joi Choi.

What makes bok choy bolt

Two things push bok choy to flower: long days and a spell of chilly weather while plants are young. A week or more of nights below about 50°F after transplanting can trigger bolting later, even if the plant looks fine. That's why spring crops in the Northwest are tricky and why the guide calls fall crops the easiest. Sow or transplant spring bok choy once the worst cold is past, protect it with row cover, and harvest early. For fall, sow in mid to late summer so plants mature in shortening, cool days. Mei Qing Choi is known for holding well.

Pests and harvest

Flea beetles riddle young leaves in spring, and slugs hide in the stems during wet Northwest weather. Row cover from sowing day and iron phosphate slug bait handle both, and cabbage worms are kept out by the same cover. Harvest baby plants at about 6 inches tall, or cut full heads at the base before a flower stalk appears. You can also pick outer leaves over time. Bok choy keeps about a week in the fridge in a bag.

Good neighbors and crop rotation

Good neighbors

Lettuce. Similar timing and size.
Onions. Fit around the heads.

Keep apart

Other cabbage-family crops in the same bed every year. Shared pests and clubroot build up; rotate.

Cabbage family: Grow cabbage-family crops in a different bed each year and come back to the same spot only every three or four years. Clubroot, which swells and knots the roots, lives in the soil for many years once it arrives, and root maggot pupae wait in last year's bed.

Pests and problems

What most often goes wrong with bok choy in Northwest gardens, how to spot it and what to do.

Flea beetles

Signs: Tiny holes in the leaves.

What to do: Row cover from planting.

Slugs

Signs: Holes in leaves and slime.

What to do: Slug bait.

Bolting

Signs: Plants flower early.

What to do: Plant early or late summer; cold snaps after planting also trigger it.

Common questions about growing bok choy

When should I plant bok choy in Oregon, Washington and Idaho?

Plant in the garden: Mar 1 – Apr 5 in Portland and Seattle, Apr 1 – May 6 in Spokane, Mar 20 – Apr 24 in Boise and Apr 28 – Jun 2 in Bend. Pick your town at the top of the page for your own dates.

Why is my bok choy bolting?

Long spring days and chilly nights after planting both trigger flowering. Plant in late summer for fall harvest, or wait for milder spring weather and harvest young. Steady watering helps too.

What is eating holes in my bok choy?

Small round holes are usually flea beetles; bigger ragged holes and slime trails mean slugs. Row cover keeps out flea beetles, and iron phosphate bait controls slugs safely.

Can I harvest bok choy more than once?

Yes. Pick outer leaves as needed, or cut the whole plant an inch above the soil and it may regrow smaller leaves. Harvest before it starts to flower.

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