3 Reasons You'll Love Growing Bok Choy, Tatsoi, Mizuna & Other Asian Greens + Growing Tips

We're kicking off a new month talking about some of my favorite veggies to grow this time of year: Asian Greens!

These are really fun to grow, and they make up some of my favorite dishes. I wasn't familiar with any of these growing up, but I've really come to love a lot of these varieties so I'm excited to talk about them with you.

1. One thing that makes these so great to grow this time of year is that they can handle changes in weather. While most of our temperatures will range in the 40s through the 60s over the coming months, it's not unheard of to have a random day over 80. These greens are really resilient. For that reason, they're some of the first greens that I start because they can take those hot days in October.

2. Another reason they're really valuable for gardeners is that they grow very quickly. For example, our Organic Tatsoi is ready to harvest in just about five weeks, especially since I don't let them get too big.

3. Our organic pac choi/bok choy is a great alternative to cabbage. In fact, I will intercrop with other varieties of cabbage because the bok choy will be ready much more quickly. That means I can harvest them, and the shade from the other cabbages won't be blocking sunlight from any of my crops.

I really love growing these, and I think you will too. Let's talk about the process a little bit.

You can direct sow, but I recommend starting these in trays and transplanting them out since they handle that transition really well. That way, you can get very intentional with your spacing too.

Like any other green, they love this time of year. The short days and cool temperatures encourage the plant the grow without bolting and going to seed. I will succession plant them over the course of 4-6 months even! On especially hot days at the start or end of the season, I will use some shade cloth to protect the plants & retain moisture in the soil.

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[purplethumb]

I'm growing kale, collards, swiss chard, and bok choy for the first time this season. I love the brassica family of vegetables. I'm going to start some arugula this weekend. The spinach are coming up nicely! Can't wait to harvest them for our meals!

[louisianaprepper]

We love our greens in the Southern US. I’m in Southwest Louisiana and grow collard, mustard, turnip greens along with arugula, mizuna, spinach, and lots of other things.

[PokerPlayerOne]

I am in love with bok choy growing lots this season

[unchistejaja]

Just transplanted my babies this morning! Can’t wait for hot pot season.

[daisyblooms]

Great info, thanks! Sounds like these would do great in my GreenStalk :-)

[Lakeport.is.blooming]

And in FILIPINO COOKING!!! heheh love my Asian greens!!!

[pakbowl]

what are you using for the hoops on your hoop house? where do you get them? thanks.

[spamtheparks]

Any thoughts on growing perilla leaves? New gardener here. They always look really leggy and almost invasive when I see people growing them. Similar growing tips as the other Asian greens in zone 10? I’d love to impress my Korean mother-in-law with some fresh homegrown perilla!

[quiquedc]

Hi Brijette! Thanks for teach us useful things, so many tips and tricks. In the video we can see those little hoops, that seem to be made from wire. I’m really curious about it, because they seem pretty sturdy, maybe you can tell us more about it. Thanks!!

[nikkiluvssf]

Finally a video that recognizes the zone 9/10 struggle with extreme temps. I’m new to gardening and live in Sonoma County. The 80 degree days and 45 degree nights are killing my veggies.

At what temp do you use your shade cloth for your lettuces? Or do you use them every day when there sunlight?

[maryelizabethcalais]

The shade cloth that you're Can the plants be watered thru I can't afford drip irrigation. I have a fan sprinkler and some areas I manually water by hand with a hose. Almost all of my gardening is in various size My very old body accommodates only so much bending :):):)

[virginiatibbetts]

Thanks for this video. I planted my first rows of Asian greens. I've never tried them before but was intrigued. I am using tulle and row cover, which I got from your site, but am wondering about your shade cloth. How dense is it? It looks quite transparent. Thanks.

[yvonnew.]

What to do with the pests? The worms love bak choy as much as I do 🤣

[EvolutionWendy]

Can be planted in the garden all winter long she says!?

[ladyryan]

I had a terrible time finding seed for bok choy. Unsure how to get it to seed?

[Kat-mfmt]

I love chomping on bok choy. However in my first time trying to grow it, the tiny babies keep getting eaten!