Kitchen Garden Forum

I sowed some pak choi outside last month and it's now 3 or 4 inches tall with a few leaves and it's just beginning to show flower buds. Is this because I should be growing it in winter?
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Granny

probably yes, ive grown it over winter for a couple of years now , it usually holds all winter then goes into flower in the warmer spring weather.
ive not tried spring sowing may be the recent hot spell has sent it into flower earlier than it would have in a cold wet april.

Have a look at

viewtopic.php?t=2880

Pak choi will nearly always go straight to seed from an early sowing. It will do best sown from late June to late August.

Alan

I too tend to sow 'oriental' greens such as Pak Choi and Mizuna in early August for autumn harvesting .. any earlier and they tend to go to seed. They mature amazingly quickly . Hope this helps !

Granny

I omitted to mention; if the flower shoots are big and tender enough, eat them.
I have posted some information re Pak Choi in "Technical Data":-

viewtopic.php?t=3794

Alan

Thanks for your replies. Alan, I should have read your technical posting thoroughly before sowing seeds. I'd forgotten it was there. Have now pulled them up and eaten them and will start again late summer.
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Granny

I have 5 plants of 'canton dwarf in my polytunnel boarder. I think they are about 8 weeks old now. They are starting to go to flower too. A bit too early for my liking as havn't fromed tight base yet. This is my first experience with 'canton dwarf'.

I have grown the bigger 'joy choi' for last couple of years outside. And in my experience this varity is less inclined to run to flower. So i might leave 'canton dwarf' as a autumn sown batch in future.