Pak choi properties and cultivation. Chinese cabbage pak choi: tips for planting and care. Chinese cabbage pak choi - soil

Surely many domestic summer residents have repeatedly heard about a unique Chinese type of cabbage called pak choi. However, few of them wondered about growing such a plant in their garden. But growing a crop is quite simple, because... it is famous for its non-capricious character and excellent productivity. In addition, such a green resident develops freely in cool and damp conditions, so it is quite comfortable in our regions.

However, there are still some features of caring for the species and they cannot be ignored. Otherwise, a good harvest may be at risk.

Growing crops at home

Currently, there are more than ten different varieties of Chinese cabbage on store shelves. Among them:

• Prima;
• Richie;
• Stonefly;
• Martin;
• Swan;

And others.

Seeds are sown directly into open ground, covering them with film. It is advisable that about three pieces are placed in one hole. The seedling method of planting is also practiced, which is considered ready for planting at the age of 20-25 days. An important feature of crop care is the mandatory thinning of 1-2 true leaves at a distance of 15-20 centimeters from each other. In this case, the rosettes can become especially large and magnificent. It is not recommended to sow too much Chinese cabbage in one place, because... the leaves will lose their softness and become small.

Description of pak choi cabbage

Pak choy is an annual leafy cabbage that belongs to the Cruciferous family. Summer residents also grow two-year-old species, although in the second year of life they begin to form a flower arrow, due to which they are not in great demand.

Adult specimens do not create heads of cabbage, remaining a lush rosette of leaves, growing up to 20-60 centimeters in height. Today, two key types of cabbage are used:

• with white petioles and dark green leaves;
• with greenish petioles and leaves;

The culture is distinguished by excellent cold resistance and high speed of crop development.

The rhizome of Chinese cabbage lies at a shallow depth (no more than 15 centimeters). The roots are relatively thin with good branching. In greenhouse conditions, the plant can be grown all year round, but in open ground - only during the warm season. The plant does not have high requirements for soil composition.

Initially, a special distribution of pak choi cabbage was noticed in the countries of Southeast Asia, although after some time, the culture was brought to the European continent, where it gained special recognition. The incredible taste qualities were highly appreciated by gourmets of European cuisine, and especially by residents of Holland, where greenhouse cultivation of the plant is still practiced throughout the year.

Among the most popular varieties that are ideal for home planting, gardeners highlight Gipro F 1, Swallow, and Vesnyanka.

For culinary purposes, the above-ground part of cabbage is used, which is represented by a lush rosette of dense leaves with amazing taste and juiciness. To taste, the fruits of pak choi are similar to spinach, Chinese cabbage and lettuce, although our variety is characterized by more rich properties and versatility of tastes.

When grown in a temperate climate, planting begins in the early stages of the growing season.

Growing pak choi. What diseases and pests threaten the crop?

As already mentioned in the description of the species, Chinese cabbage grows freely in unfavorable climatic conditions and fights well against many garden pests and infections. However, individuals planted in the spring are subject to attacks by cruciferous flea beetles, which massively infect the leaves and stop their development. To avoid such a course of events, it is enough to cover the beds with agrofibre. Also excellent is the method of dusting the crop using ash or a solution with ash and tobacco dust in a 1 to 1 ratio.

In eastern countries, pak choy is an indispensable part of the daily diet and has been in great demand for many centuries, while in the domestic space the species appeared relatively recently and is considered a bright novelty. Pak choy is an annual leafy plant that looks like a lush bouquet of wide leaves with succulent petioles tightly pressed together. Often in nature there are individuals with white and green petioles.

Like other relatives, this cabbage is characterized by a high rate of fruit development and excellent yield indicators, which is important for growing in areas with risky farming. Representatives of the variety are not afraid of low temperatures and sudden climate changes, and they contain a huge amount of vitamins, including lysine, which helps cleanse the blood of microbes and viruses. Pak choy is an excellent way to strengthen the immune system, so the question of growing such cabbage at home is increasingly of interest to many gardeners.

Pak choi cabbage. Growing at home. Preparatory stage

Growing Pak Choi- a fairly simple activity that does not require special skills or extensive experience. Any summer resident can start planting crops in his garden. It is enough to understand the main preferences of the variety and review the planting, watering and fertilizing scheme.

When choosing soil, preference should be given to thoroughly fertilized compounds with an average acidity of pH 5.5-7. The plant forms a root system 10-15 centimeters from the surface of the earth. In order for spring greenery to sprout as early as possible, seedlings need to be sown in the second half of April, covering them with polyethylene.

If you choose a later disembarkation time, undesirable development of the arrows cannot be ruled out. Also, a similar nuisance occurs during long-term cold weather. However, the most productive yield is seen in the second half of summer, from mid-July to early August. In greenhouse conditions, the yield is maximum, and the condition of the petioles is very good.

When planting a crop in open ground or in a greenhouse, maintain a certain distance between each bush. The optimal figure is 25-30 centimeters. All care features consist of:

• weeding;
• loosening;
• regular watering;

Of the pests, pak choy is susceptible only to cruciferous flea beetles and some other insects.

Sowing seeds and preparing seedlings

It is better to start sowing seeds in April, although some summer residents practice summer planting. In contrast to early planting, this option minimizes the likelihood of flower shoots developing. In spring, seeds are planted either in open ground (provided that the air temperature is comfortable), or in pots that are stored in a warm room until the weather warms up. When sowing in open ground, it is better to cover the crops with film or a special covering material that provides reliable protection from cold and strong drafts.

If you intend to grow seedlings in special pots, have time to plant them no later than 2-4 weeks after the appearance of the first shoots. Immediately before placing the seeds in the soil to a depth of 2-3 centimeters, the soil must be compacted. As soon as you notice the active development of young seedlings, you will have to thin them out, otherwise the problem of severe overgrowth will be inevitable.

Chinese cabbage develops excellently at a temperature range of 15-20 degrees Celsius. Many varieties do not die even during night frosts, down to -5 degrees. Due to such frost resistance, the crop is considered a very valuable find for our summer residents, who are forced to garden in unpredictable climatic conditions with sudden temperature changes, unexpected precipitation and other weather “surprises”.

Cooking cabbage and unique properties

Currently, delicious salads, soups and side dishes are created based on pak choy, so it can be called an invaluable addition to luxurious dishes. Vegetables are prepared in different ways. It can be boiled and fried. For example, when cooking, the petioles are boiled first, and after 5 minutes the leaves. Pak choy is great for pickling and salting. Today there are many ready-made recipes that allow you to create a unique work of culinary art based on Chinese cabbage.

In addition to its food purpose, cabbage can also be an excellent preventative or therapeutic agent. Its juice contains excellent bactericidal substances, vitamins, enzymes and biological elements that help prevent various diseases. Regular consumption of this plant, fresh or cooked, is an excellent stimulation for the immune system, especially during times of exhaustion of the body or during periods of vitamin deficiency.

Features of planting pak choi cabbage

As already mentioned, pak choi cabbage develops well and bears fruit in fertile soil. Given the presence of an underdeveloped root system, frequent replanting is not recommended, so in most cases, summer residents plant seeds directly in open ground, covering them with plastic film. It is better to start sowing in the spring, for example, at the end of April.

No more than 3 seeds are placed in one prepared hole. The first shoots will make themselves felt in 7-10 days. To improve yields, the crop can be sown at intervals of 8-10 days. If you prefer growing from seedlings, then you need to use small containers with a nutrient mixture. It is important to thoroughly loosen the soil in such containers, which will stimulate more productive growth of seedlings. Seedlings can be sown in open soil only after 20-25 days. It is important that before this time they have three to four true leaves.

When asking the question: “When is the best time to plant pak choy?”, do not expect a definite answer. In most cases, the optimal sowing time is mid-April, and if we are talking about seedling propagation, the beginning of March. If you did not have time to plant the seeds before the set time, later planting will lead to rapid development of the flower arrow.

To get a productive autumn harvest, you can start planting in mid-August. If you are growing a crop in greenhouse conditions, then it is kept there all year round, adhering to temperatures of 15-20 degrees Celsius.

Features of care

The plant reacts negatively to frequent contact with chemical fertilizers. Also, it does not need abundant watering and regular weeding, which saves the summer resident from many additional worries. To maintain comfortable soil moisture, it is enough to mulch the beds with compost fertilizers or mowed grass.

To combat pests, ash is placed in the grooves. If you need to get rid of the crusading flea beetle, then you cannot do without regular preventive measures, which include abundant watering and loosening the soil.

For more effective treatment, daily spraying of leaves with infusions of tobacco or wood ash is practiced. The fight against slugs and rain snails is carried out manually, as part of regular inspection of the crop. As for other care features, they are practically absent. Cabbage takes root well in our conditions and shows good yield indicators, which makes it a very valuable find for avid gardeners.

Due to its composition rich in valuable vitamins and microelements, the absence of difficulties in growing independently and excellent early maturity, pak-chai cabbage is in very high demand. Therefore, if you intend to start growing such a plant at home, be prepared to study all the features of the upcoming activity, and then your goal will be achieved in a short time.

Another miracle that came to us from China is pak choy (bok choy) cabbage. This unpretentious, healthy, nutritious and at the same time low-calorie crop is distinguished by excellent germination and easy care, thanks to which it is readily cultivated in many parts of the world. A stable harvest can be obtained without special investments of money, time and effort. How to grow this cabbage in your garden and what exactly is it?

Pak choi cabbage - description

Although it is a close relative of the familiar white cabbage, Chinese pak choi does not form heads and is more like salad greens. It belongs to early ripening crops - already 30 days after planting it is fully ripened. In the warm Asian climate, they manage to grow it several times per season. In the middle zone, if desired, you can get up to two harvests. In heated greenhouses, pak choi cabbage can grow year-round.

The main appeal of pak choy is its enormous health benefits. Cabbage leaves contain a high concentration of amino acids, vitamins, especially vitamin C, and other beneficial mineral compounds that have a beneficial effect on health, well-being and help prolong the youth of the body. It can be used in food as an additive to various salads and as a side dish for fish and meat.

Pak choy - varieties

Chinese pak choi cabbage is gaining increasing popularity in our area, and if you also want to try growing it on your own plot, it is extremely important to know which varieties are suitable for cultivating it in our climate. There are several of the most successful varieties of this plant. Early varieties:

• "Alyonushka";
• "Vesnyanka";
• "Golub";
• "Coral".

Mid-season varieties of pak choi cabbage:

• "Martin";
• "Peahen";
• "Swan";
• "Yula";
• “In memory of Popova”;
• "Chill";
• "Beijing Surprise"
• "Four Seasons"

Planting pak choi

Pak choi cabbage has its own cultivation characteristics that differ from those used when growing ordinary cabbage. The most pleasant difference is the ability to grow it on poorly fertilized soil. In general, pak choy is unpretentious to the composition of the soil in which it is grown. Another feature is that Chinese pak choi cabbage does not tolerate transplantation well, so it is better to sow it directly into the ground. In just a month you will be able to harvest your first finished harvest.

How to plant pak choi cabbage?

The most common method is seed. How to grow pak choi from seeds? You need to wait for stable heat and warming up of the soil, after which you first make furrows in the bed up to 3 cm deep with a distance between rows of about 30 cm. After sowing, the bed needs to be covered with film until the first shoots appear. If you grew seedlings from seeds, the time to transplant them to a permanent place of growth comes when the fifth leaf appears on it.

When to plant pak choy cabbage?

Depending on whether you plant seeds directly into the ground or first grow seedlings at home in a greenhouse, the timing of planting seeds varies significantly. Seeds can be sown in open ground in early June. If you still want to grow cabbage using seedlings, the seeds should be sown at the end of March. Planting pak choi in this case is accompanied by extremely careful transfer of seedlings to a permanent place of growth along with an earthen ball due to the poor survival rate of seedlings.

Growing Pak Choi

Growing Chinese pak choi cabbage is not difficult and, to some extent, fun. Short ripening times and simple care, consisting of compliance with irrigation, loosening and weeding regimes, make the plant a welcome guest in our beds. The only negative feature that cabbage from China pak choi has is its predisposition to bolting and flowering as daylight increases. Therefore, it is preferable to grow it in early summer. If bolting has already occurred, the arrows with flowers need to be cut off with pruning shears.

Chinese cabbage pak choi - soil

To grow pak choi cabbage on a plot of land, complex soil preparation is not required. The best way is to dig up the soil in the fall, combining this process with the addition of fertilizers - organic and phosphate. The amount of fertilizer should not exceed 10 liters per square meter of land. Light liming of the soil will not be amiss. To speed up the process of warming up the beds in the spring, you can cover them with dark film in early March. The thawed soil must be dug up again and brought into it.

Pak choi cabbage - watering

Watering this crop should be abundant and regular. There is no need to overfill it with water, but it is also undesirable to allow the soil to dry out. Active watering at the stage of tying rosettes is extremely important. How to grow pak choy in open ground: it needs to be watered only during periods of prolonged lack of rainfall. The watering rate is 15-20 liters per square meter. It is better to use warm water for watering.

Beijing cabbage pak choi - feeding

The best feeding of this crop is the use of mineral fertilizers in the required proportions, the violation of which leads to a deterioration in taste. You can replace mineral fertilizers with ash in the amount of 1 cup per square meter. When growing pak choi cabbage from seeds, the following proportions of fertilizing are used:

• potash fertilizers – 20 g per square meter;
• ammonium nitrate - 15 g for each square of land;
• double superphosphate - 20 g per square meter.

Pak choi cabbage - diseases and pests

When wondering how to grow pak choi cabbage in the country, you need to be prepared to resist diseases and pests that claim their share of the harvest. The most common pests of pak choi are:

1. They are capable of completely destroying cabbage. Prevention of their appearance consists in frequent loosening and abundant watering of the plant - insects cannot tolerate high humidity. Sprinkling cabbage leaves with wood ash and tobacco infusion gives good results. You can use the product “Kinmiks” for cruciferous flea fleas, which must be diluted with water in accordance with the attached instructions. It is better to spray the beds with it in the morning or evening.

1. Garden and rain snails. They can be collected by hand or caught using baits based on alcohol infusion and bran. The drug "Rodax" shows good results.

1. Cabbage whites. At the stage of formation of cabbage leaves, they need to be regularly inspected for the presence of cabbage whites and its eggs. They are located on the back of the leaves. If they are detected, all eggs must be urgently removed and destroyed.

Pak choi cabbage is not susceptible to most diseases characteristic of plants in the cabbage family. In addition, there are varieties that are especially resistant to diseases and pests. For example, the Gipro F1 variety is unpretentious, resistant to diseases, pests and frost. In general, if the conditions for growing this crop are observed, most problems associated with diseases and pests can be avoided.

Pak choi cabbage has been cultivated for a very long time, but it has only become popular in our country recently. It is perfect for growing in open ground and is not particularly difficult to care for. This variety of cabbage does not form heads. If you look at the photo, you can see that in appearance it very much resembles a salad vegetable. But it is used not only for making salads. There are many recipes for both first and second courses using this vegetable crop.

This kale is also called Chinese cabbage, since it began to be cultivated in this country. The plant forms a compact rosette of leaves tightly adjacent to each other. Cabbage leaves are juicy, often bright green on top, and white and fleshy at the base. The entire above-ground part of the plant, both the green leaf mass and the white petioles, can be used for food.

There are different varieties of this cabbage, which differ in ripening time and size. Pak choy can reach a height of up to 30-60 cm, and a rosette diameter of up to 30 cm. The plant is rich in vitamins and various minerals. It has a beneficial effect on the body when consumed regularly and is suitable for dietary nutrition.

Pak choy looks like a leafy vegetable

But in addition to its exceptional benefits for the body, pak choy is also popular among gardeners due to its:

• good germination;
• high yield;
• precocity;
• unpretentiousness in care.

Features of cultivation

Like any crop, this cabbage has some growing features that the gardener must take into account. The plant prefers cool weather and high humidity. As for predecessors, it is better not to sow pak choi in beds where any type of cabbage was planted in previous years. It is good to plant it after onions, legumes, pumpkin and grain crops. But it is quite unpretentious to soils. Of course, cabbage will grow better on fertile soil, but good yields can be obtained in poorer soil.

Attention! Pak choi does not tolerate acidic soils very well. If the acidity of the soil at the site of the intended planting is increased, it is better to prepare the soil in the fall by adding ash or dolomite flour.

Planting pak choi cabbage

You can sow cabbage in open soil from April to August. But not all of this period is equally favorable for sowing pak choy. It is better to choose one of the following two periods for planting seeds:

• end of April;
• mid-July.

Pak choi cabbage shoots

Gardeners especially prefer to sow pak choi cabbage in July, since when planting it at this time, you can not only get really good yields, but also avoid the plant going into decline as much as possible.

Pak choy is sown in prepared soil 2-3 cm deep in holes with a distance between them of 20-30 cm. It is also better to keep the distance between rows at least 20-30 cm so that each plant has the necessary area for nutrition. When planting in the spring, when it is still quite cold, the crops can be covered with film or special material to protect young seedlings.

Advice. This variety of cabbage can be grown not only by direct sowing in the garden, but also by seedlings. But this is not the best option, because pak choi does not tolerate further transplantation very well.

Plant care

Even a novice gardener can easily cope with caring for pak choi. It is not very difficult and consists of:

• sufficient watering;
• regular loosening of the soil around plants;
• applying fertilizers.

The plant needs a minimal amount of fertilizing

But you shouldn’t get too carried away with fertilizing this early-ripening crop, especially with the application of mineral fertilizers. It will be enough to feed pak choi once or twice with herbal infusion. You can also take mullein infusion to feed plants.

Water cabbage depending on weather conditions. Watering should be sufficient, but not excessive. After rains and waterings, the soil is loosened so that it is light and breathable. They do this carefully so as not to harm the root system of the plants, which is superficial.

When cabbage pests appear, measures must be taken to protect the plants. But since this crop is early ripening, you need to use only safe means. For cruciferous flea beetles or cabbage whites, you can spray the plants with tobacco infusion or use ash, and it is better to remove the larvae and egg laying manually. Hand picking is also effective against cabbage pests such as slugs and snails.

Use of pak choy in cooking

Pak choy is used in preparing a wide variety of dishes, and in any form this cabbage is very good. It can be stewed or fried with other vegetables or meat. It is also used for preparing first courses. For example, chicken soup with pak choy is very tasty, light and nutritious.

To prepare this dish in 1.5 liters of water you will need 2 chicken fillets, 6 bunches of pak choi cabbage, 4 small potatoes and carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp. vegetable oil, 1-2 bouillon cubes.

Pak choi is ideal for salads

Preparation:

1. Cut the chicken fillet and vegetables into cubes, and finely chop the garlic.
2. Let the chicken fillet cook for 10-15 minutes, then add potatoes, carrots, cabbage stalks and celery to the pan.
3. Heat the oil in a frying pan, fry the onion and garlic in it until softened.
4. Place the fried onions and garlic in a saucepan, then cook for about 10-15 minutes.
5. At the very end, add bouillon cubes, cabbage leaves and salt.

But during heat treatment, some of the vitamins of green pak choy leaves are quickly lost. Therefore, this cabbage will be much healthier in a fresh salad. The ingredients for preparing fresh salads can be different. This already depends on a person’s taste preferences.

A very tasty salad can be made, for example, from bell peppers, pak choi leaves, dates, grated ginger and carrots. These ingredients need to be mixed, then seasoned with lemon juice. If desired, you can also add a little vegetable oil to the salad, preferably olive oil. The dish turns out light and nutritious.

When choosing what to plant in your garden, do not forget about pak choi cabbage, because it is a tasty and healthy product. In addition, this culture is quite simple to care for. Even a beginner in gardening can cope with its cultivation.

Pak choy cabbage: video

Chinese cabbage pak choy (or bok choy) is not yet so well known in our country. This cabbage is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and other compounds. It is one of the top three vegetables in terms of nutritional content. Compared to other foods, it has the highest level of nutrients per calorie. It can be a great addition to any dish, added to stews and salads.

What does pak choi cabbage look like? Description

Bok choy is a type of Chinese cabbage that does not form a head and has smooth, dark green leaves that grow from a rosette. Belongs to the cruciferous family.

Known by different names such as Chinese white cabbage, Asian cabbage, pai chok cabbage, Chinese mustard and others.

It is more like a green salad, since it does not form the usual head of cabbage. Cabbage's spoon-shaped green leaves with slightly flattened white stems are arranged in a rosette and have a pleasant sweet aroma and crisp texture.

There are varieties bred by breeders with leaves of different colors, including purple.

Prefers sunny, well-drained fertile soils. Does not tolerate drought, but tolerates light frosts well. With insufficient watering, its leaves become bitter and unsuitable for food. It is sometimes ready for harvesting within 50-60 days after planting the seeds.

It is well known in Southeast Asia and Southern China. In recent years it has been widely grown in Europe and North America.

This cabbage was first cultivated in China and occupies an important place in Chinese cuisine and traditional national medicine. It was brought to Europe at the beginning of the 19th century.

Benefits of pak choi cabbage

Despite its not very large size, it has a number of useful nutrients. 95 percent of its leaves and petioles consist of water. In addition, it contains:

Carbohydrates (up to 2%);

Protein (up to 1%);

Fats (less than 1%);

Cellulose;

Vitamins: K, A, C, folates;

Mineral salts: calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, potassium.

It has no cholesterol. Sodium, phosphorus, and zinc are present in small quantities.

Calorie content per 100 grams is only 13 calories, i.e. it can be classified as a dietary product useful for weight loss and obesity prevention.

It ranks 2nd in nutrient density out of the 41 healthiest plant foods.

Vitamin A and C are necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system.

Ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant that helps the body resist free radicals.

Magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium improve overall health.

Beneficial features

Strengthening the skeletal system

Pak choi has a great effect on bone mineral density and structure. Minerals such as magnesium, zinc, iron and calcium prevent the chances of osteoporosis and make bones strong and strong.

In addition, it has a high content of vitamin K, which is associated with a reduced risk of bone fractures in old age. Zinc, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and iron also support bone structure.

Zinc and iron play a vital role in collagen production.

Supports hematopoiesis

Iron is an important part for the production of red blood cells. Adequate amounts of iron improve the delivery of oxygen to all organs of the human body.

Improves blood clotting

Vitamin K is inextricably linked with blood clotting. In the absence or low content, the risk of bleeding increases.

Cancer Prevention

It contains sulfur-based compounds that have been linked to a reduced risk of cancer. These compounds act as antioxidants and destroy free radicals before they cause healthy cells to mutate into cancer cells.

Research shows that consuming cruciferous vegetables reduces the risk of prostate, lung, breast and colon cancer.

The body converts glucosinolates into isothiocyanates, which help fight cancer.

This vegetable contains folic acid. It is involved in DNA synthesis and prevents their mutation into cancer cells.

Vitamin A, C and beta-carotene act as antioxidants that protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Fiber improves bowel function and prevents constipation, which leads to a reduced risk of colon cancer.

Supports normal vision

Vitamin A is made up of various carotenoids such as alpha-carotene and beta-carotene. It is associated with eye health and prevents macular degeneration, cataracts.

Supports Heart Health

Folic acid and vitamin B-6 reduce homocysteine ​​levels in the blood, high levels of which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

100 grams of this cabbage provides 17 percent of the daily value of vitamin B-9 and 15 percent of B-6.

It also has 4 percent of the daily value of potassium, which regulates heartbeat. Calcium and magnesium, essential for bone health, also play a role in maintaining a healthy heart.

Calcium stimulates the contraction of the heart muscle, and magnesium stimulates their relaxation.

In addition, it contains potassium, a mineral necessary for the regulation of cellular fluid.

Normalizes blood pressure

Potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium - all these substances affect blood pressure, regulate heart function, and reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Strengthens immunity

Vitamin C is a vitamin essential for strengthening the immune system. It stimulates the production of white blood cells. It is an antioxidant that suppresses the oxidative effect of free radicals and prevents chronic diseases.

Essential for the production of collagen, which is essential for cell repair and healing.

Improves skin condition

Vitamin C is a vital nutrient that supports collagen production. Collagen maintains skin structure, elasticity, reduces wrinkles, and improves complexion.

Useful for pregnant women

As a good source of folic acid, it is recommended to be consumed during pregnancy. It is necessary to reduce the risk of developing congenital pathologies in a child.

Benefits of bok choy

As you know, in China it is not only a food product, but also a medicinal vegetable. Pak choi:

Relieves fever;

Soothes cough;

Used for skin rashes, eczema, allergies, acne (applied to the affected area in the form of a paste);

Reduces the development of atherosclerosis;

Supports digestion;

Relieves chronic inflammation;

Normalizes weight, preventing obesity;

Stabilizes mental health: relieves stress, anxiety, tension;

Promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss.

Since it consists of almost one hundred percent water, it quenches thirst well.

Contraindications and harm

Bok choy is a healthy, nutrient-packed vegetable. But it is still not recommended to consume it in large quantities.

It contains glucosinolates, which are harmful if consumed in excess.

In its raw form, like all cruciferous vegetables, it contains the enzyme myrosinase. It can impair the functioning of the thyroid gland and interfere with the absorption of iodine. When cooked, this enzyme breaks down.

Those who take blood thinning medications should not get carried away with dishes containing this cabbage, since vitamin K affects blood clotting.

How to eat pak choi cabbage

Since it is more reminiscent of a green salad, it does not have a stalk, like regular cabbage. Therefore, the entire plant is eaten. Salads, stews, and soup are prepared from it. It can be a good addition to almost any dish. Here are some tips on how to best eat it.

Chop and mix with other vegetables, season with oil.

Cook soup or green cabbage soup.

Cook with other vegetables, sesame oil and soy sauce.

Fry with garlic, ginger.

Make a stew with pak choi, mushrooms, onions, soy sauce.

It can be boiled, steamed, fried. In Korea, they make kimchi from it.

It can serve as a filling in dumplings, pies, and pies.

The leaves can be used as a substitute for green lettuce in hamburgers and sandwiches, used for serving salads, fried meats, etc.

Goes well with garlic, ginger, onions, chili peppers, all types of cabbage, and leafy greens.

Bok choy is undoubtedly a nutritious food. When including it in your diet, you need to take into account the general state of your health and remember the contraindications.

It is better to eat a variety of foods than to focus on specific foods as the key to achieving good health. Everything is useful in moderation.

And with high nutritional properties, many in our country began mass cultivation of this variety of cabbage. We will talk about the secrets of proper planting and caring for pak choi in the article.

Description of culture

Mid-season varieties include “Lebedushka”, “Swallow”, “Chill”, “Four Seasons”, “In Memory of Popova”. The growing season of mid-season varieties is 50-55 days.

Did you know? In Asian countries With ok pak choi is used in cosmetics. It is an excellent remedy for skin rejuvenation.

Bak choy not particularly demanding on soil. It can grow even in an unfertilized area. But the best place for planting will be sandy loam or light loam. Soil acidity should range from 5.5 to 6.5 pH. The best predecessor is . It is not recommended to plant pak choi in a place where another variety grew last year.

It is also undesirable to plant bok choy in one place for more than two years in a row.

How to plant pak choi cabbage in the country

Now we will understand the main question: how to grow pak choi cabbage at home? Cultivation begins with planting.

Planting and caring for seedlings

To grow seedlings, cabbage seeds are planted in peat cups at the end of March - mid-April. Soil for seedlings can be mixed with humus for better seed germination.
After planting, water the seeds with water (cold watering is not advisable). Cups with seedlings are best placed in a sunny place.

Every four to five days, the seeds need to be watered with water whose temperature is not lower than 15ºC. After 15-20 days, when three leaves form on the seedlings, it needs to be added.

Pour a little soil under each sprout, then the plant will quickly form the fourth and fifth leaves. After the seedlings have five leaves, they can be planted in a pre-prepared area along with the cups.

In order for pak choi seedlings to take root faster, you need Spray regularly with water(2-4 times a day; spray for 5-7 days).
It is best to plant cabbage in partial shade. Until the roots of the seedlings become stronger, the hot rays of the sun can harm them. It is better to plant seedlings in the ground in the evening or on a cloudy day.

The distance between the rows of cabbage should be 25-30 cm. Bury into the soil until the first true leaves.

Features of cultivation

Pak choi cabbage can be grown in almost any type of soil. It does not require special and careful care. However, if you follow some nuances, you can increase productivity.

Watering and soil care

It is better to refrain from adding it (since even if the cabbage grows, it will lose its taste).

More about the features of caring for pak choi

The crop is prone to arrows and flowering, so when growing you need to take into account some of the biological characteristics of cabbage.
The processes of formation of shoots and flowering are usually observed with a constant lengthening of daylight hours. To avoid this, some agronomists advise plant pak choi no earlier than July.

For better yield, the soil around the cabbage can be mulched with rich compost or grass clippings. This will better retain moisture (this is especially necessary during dry periods of summer).

Control of plant diseases and pests

Important!To control pak choi pests, they also use a solution of wood ash and laundry soap, an infusion based on fresh tomato leaves and a solution of vinegar water,infusion of liquid soap and dandelion root,infusion of garlic arrows and green.These solutions are suitable for both spraying and watering.

To combat cruciferous flea beetle, it is allowed to use an aqueous solution based on the drug