Brassica
Pak Choi
Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
Fast Asian green — sow successionally in cool seasons to avoid bolting.
Full to partial
Regular
Rich, moist
Easy
Yes
Leaves & stems
Annual
Hardy
15 L
25 cm
Herb
Chives
Chives repel cabbage moths and flea beetles that target pak choi's brassica family tissues.
Allium
Garlic
Garlic's pungent sulfur compounds deter cabbage moths and other brassica pests threatening pak choi's tender leaves.
Flower
Calendula
Calendula's bright flowers trap flea beetles away from pak choi while improving soil with organic matter.
Situations where this plant is a reliable fit — from someone's kitchen sill to a wind-blown rooftop.
Balcony
A few pots on a flat outdoor perch — some sun, some wind.
Grow bag
Cheap flexible bag, 20–40 L — hungry crops with big roots love these.
Reused bucket
A salvaged 10–20 L bucket with drainage holes — a proper productive pot for very little cost.
Raised bed
A traditional plot or timber-sided bed — deepest root run, widest planting choice.
Water jar
A jam jar of water on the sill — no soil at all. Regrow from kitchen scraps.
Root in water, transfer to soil
14 days
★★★★☆
Yes
How to do it
Stand the trimmed base (the bottom 3 cm with the heart intact) cut-side-up in 1 cm of water. Refresh every 2 days; new central leaves in 4–7 days. Pot in compost after 2 weeks for a longer crop.
What to expect
One or two harvests of small leaves before it bolts.
Honest note
Bolts (flowers) fast in warmth — keep cool for a longer run.
Where to source
Get growing in United Kingdom
Shop local first
The best plants come from a real nursery, and the best trowel comes from the old-fashioned ironmonger down the road — people who know their stock and can advise. Try local first, both for the plant and the kit. It keeps small growers and small hardware shops alive.
Searching near London
For pots, compost, seed trays, twine and other kit — Amazon has the essentials if the local option isn't right. Not a plant nursery; use the local map above for the plant itself.
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