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James H. Schutte
Brassicaceae
Brassica rapa 'Mei Qing Choi'( Chinensis Group)
Pac Choi
A compact pak choi with broad leaves and fleshy pale green leaf stalks, 'Mei Qing Choi' is also known for its relative heat tolerance. It is one of numerous greens belonging to Brassica rapa, which is believed to have originated in central and southern Europe but is now cultivated and naturalized worldwide.
This annual or biennial, cool-season plant forms loose rosettes of upright, broad, mid-green leaves with greenish-white stalks and midribs. The thick stalk bases form an almost bulbous heart. Plants grow calf-high. During hot weather or after prolonged chilly spells, tall sprays of bright yellow flowers may appear. Rattlebox seed capsules follow, opening to scatter many reddish-brown to black seeds.
This cool weather crop prefers full sun and moderately fertile, humus-rich, slightly acid soil with ample drainage. It matures about 45 days after sowing. Sow it in early spring before temperatures heat up or in late summer for fall harvesting. In areas with mild climates it makes an excellent winter crop. Hot weather or prolonged chilly spells may cause it to flower ("bolt"), which usually results in bitter-tasting, dwindling plants. This brassica is frost hardy and will take a few degrees below freezing. It is not a heavy feeder and may not need fertilizer if grown in rotation with nitrogen-fixing legumes. This wonderful green is easy to grow and very tasty. Use the young leaves in salads and the mature leaves and hearts for boiling, steaming, or stir-frying.
9 - 3
9 - 11
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun, Partial Sun
8"-10" / 20.3cm - 25.4cm
Spring, Summer, Late Winter
Europe
Acidic, Neutral
Well Drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
Fast
Average Water
Upright/Erect
Spring, Fall, Winter
Showy
Yellow
Sienna, Black
White, Green
No
Yes
Single
Medium
Matte
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Wildflower
Butterflies
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