Growing & Using Chinese Vegetables

If you need information on growing or using a particular Chinese vegetable, email me at norma@luv2wok.com.

Appearance:	About 6 inches in height. A miniature version of regular bok choy.
To Grow:	Grow in rich, loose soil. Prefers cooler weather (plants will bolt in the heat). Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be tilled in the spring. Plant seeds thinly in rows about 6 inches apart. Thin to about 4 inches apart. Thinned out plants can be transplanted. Fall planting will also yield excellent results.
To Cook:	Use in the same manner as you would regular bok choy. Baby bok choy is more tender than regular bok choy and has a sweet, delicate flavor.

(also known as pak choi and spoon cabbage)

Appearance:	10-12 inches in height. Long, white stems are thick and smooth with dark green, spoon-shaped leaves that are Swiss chard-like in appearance.
To Grow:	Grow in rich, loose soil. Prefers cooler weather (plants will bolt in the heat). Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be tilled in the spring. Plant seeds thinly in rows about 8 inches apart. Thin to about 12 inches apart. Thinned out plants can be transplanted. Fall planting will also yield excellent results.
To Cook:	Separate stalks at base and wash well. Cut to desired lengths, and use alone or combine with other ingredients in stir-fry, soups, etc. I sometimes cook bok choy al dente, other times until soft. This is a high water content vegetable.

(also known as yard-long beans & asparagus beans)

Appearance:	Two commonly available varieties are dark green and light green. Both the dark green and light green variety can grow in length from 1-3 feet.
To Grow:	Easy to grow but very sensitive to cold. In colder climates, start seeds indoors. Plant 8-12 inches apart, after all danger of frost has passed. Needs a sturdy fence or trellis on which to climb. Harvest before the seeds are visible through the pods.
To Cook:	Cut to desired lengths. Cook as you would string beans. The dark green variety has a crunchy texture, the light green variety has a soft texture and is meatier.

(also sometimes mistakenly referred to as Baby Bok Choy)

Appearance:	A pretty compact plant, 6-8 inches in height. Light green stalks form a bulb with spoon-shaped green leaves that remain loose.
To Grow:	Grow in rich, loose soil. Prefers cooler weather but able to tolerate some heat if shielded from afternoon sun and kept well watered. In the northeast, Shanghai bok choy will continue to grow past Thanksgiving if there is no snow. Sow seeds thinly in rows about 6 inches apart. Thin to about 4 inches apart. Thinned out plants can be transplanted.
To Cook:	Separate stalks at base and wash well. Cut to desired lengths. Stir-fry alone or combine with other vegetables, meat, poultry or seafood if desired. Can also be added to soup. If using whole, soak briefly and wash well to remove any dirt that may be trapped between stalks. Braise in broth until tender.

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