Growing and Saving the Seed of Chinese Cabbage

HISTORY

Recorded cultivation dates back to the 15th century in the Yangtze River region in China! Chinese cabbage is believed to have been derived from a cross between bok choy and the turnip. Heading Chinese cabbage has gone on to become one of the most important vegetables in eastern Asia!

USES

• Culinary

• Best planted in cool spring or fall conditions, when temps are between 55-80F.  
• Sow seeds in place, 1/4 inch deep, or start indoors and carefully transplant when the seedlings are 4 weeks old.

• Best planted in rich, moist soil, with well-rotted compost tilled in.
• Does best in full sun and tolerates light frosts.
• Space plants 12-15 inches apart

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Keep soil moist and fertilize when heading begins.
• Slugs are a common pest. Also be vigilant for pests like the cabbage root fly and the cabbage white butterfly. Row covers work well to protect against pests.
• Also susceptible to fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases including club root, downy mildew, powdery mildew, and various mosaic viruses.

• Select your best plants to keep for seed and leave them to flower and go to seed.
• Leave plants in the ground over winter, with heavy mulch and a row cover in harsh winter areas.
• In the second season, the plant will send up flower stalks from the head, and as they mature they will become seed pods.
• Once the seed stalks/pods are brown and dry, cut the seed stalks off, and break open the seed pods with your hands or a rolling pin over a container such as a bowl or plate, and separate and extract the seeds.