🥬 When to Plant Bok Choy

🥬 Vegetable
Cool Season

Quick-maturing Asian green; plant in spring or fall to avoid summer bolting

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Find my zone
Zone Last Frost Start Indoors Transplant Direct Sow
Zone 2A May 30 May 2 May 16 May 2
Zone 3B May 15 Apr 17 May 1 Apr 17
Zone 4A May 8 Apr 10 Apr 24 Apr 10
Zone 4B May 1 Apr 3 Apr 17 Apr 3
Zone 5A Apr 25 Mar 28 Apr 11 Mar 28
Zone 5B Apr 18 Mar 21 Apr 4 Mar 21
Zone 6A Apr 21 Mar 24 Apr 7 Mar 24
Zone 6B Apr 10 Mar 13 Mar 27 Mar 13
Zone 7A Apr 5 Mar 8 Mar 22 Mar 8
Zone 7B Mar 28 Feb 28 Mar 14 Feb 28
Zone 8A Mar 20 Feb 20 Mar 6 Feb 20
Zone 8B Mar 12 Feb 12 Feb 26 Feb 12
Zone 9A Feb 28 Jan 31 Feb 14 Jan 31
Zone 9B Feb 15 Jan 18 Feb 1 Jan 18
Zone 10A Feb 1 Jan 4 Jan 18 Jan 4
Zone 10B Jan 15 Dec 18 Jan 1 Dec 18
Zone 11A Jan 1 Dec 4 Dec 18 Dec 4

Bok Choy is a crisp, fast-growing Asian green that thrives in cool weather. Baby bok choy varieties can be ready in just 30 days, making it ideal for spring and fall gaps in the garden.

Top Growing Tips

  • Sow indoors 4 weeks before last frost or direct sow in early spring
  • Prefers soil temperatures between 45-75°F — bolts quickly in heat
  • Space standard varieties 6-9 inches apart; baby types can be closer
  • Harvest whole heads when compact, or cut outer leaves for partial harvest
  • Fall sowing is often more successful — cooler temps prevent bolting

Companion Planting

Good companions: beets, onions, celery, aromatic herbs

Avoid planting near: strawberries, pole beans, tomatoes

Harvest Timeline

30-45 days (baby) to 50-70 days (full size)