Late pak choi

I was rather late sowing pak choi for a winter greenhouse crop. I didn't get round to it until well into October (the end of August or early September would have been more appropriate). I sowed them in modules and although they germinated well they were slow to leaf up. However, now they are looking very promising and I finally transferred them from the modules into a greenhouse border (fortified by my special reserve compost). I expect to be able to start cropping from them in four or five weeks and they should continue until I need the space again in late spring.  

This is a crop well worth growing, especially if you see the price of them in supermarkets. These are severely trimmed and the small plants are generally packed in cellophane. This is painful to see as when we once lived within striking distance of a big Chinese grocery, thick bunches of pak choi (and other asian leaf vegetables) were cheap to buy. Alas, flown in from afar.

All the more reason to grow your own. The seed is readily available (Wilkos, 50p at the end of the season discounted price). Actually this is the best time to grow them as they are cool season plants. They are prone to bolt in high summer temperatures and won't tolerate drying out. Pak choi are easy to germinate and are surprisingly hardy, even tolerating a degree of frost. They can be grown outside but you will get a better crop undercover. They like a rich soil and kept well watered.

Individual leaves will be picked off
when they are ready, and in this way
the plants will keep cropping for
 a couple of months at least