Facts about Bok Choy
- Bok choy, a type of Chinese cabbage, is packed with nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate, calcium, and fiber.
- This leafy green is known for its mild flavor, which can be both sweet and spicy, depending on how it’s cooked.
- Bok choy is easy to grow, even in small spaces. It’s perfect for container gardening and can thrive on a sunny windowsill or balcony. Directions below on growing your own baby bok choys on your patio!
1. Roasted Baby Bok Choy
Ingredients:
- 4 heads of baby bok choy
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cut the baby bok choy in half lengthwise.
- Toss the bok choy with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Arrange the bok choy cut-side down on a baking sheet.
- Roast for 10-12 minutes or until the leaves are slightly crispy and the stems are tender.
2. Stir-Fried Baby Bok Choy
Ingredients:
- 4 heads of baby bok choy
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
Instructions:
- Slice the baby bok choy in half lengthwise.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
- Add the bok choy and stir-fry for about 2 minutes.
- Pour in the soy sauce and continue to stir-fry until the bok choy is tender-crisp, about 2-3 minutes more.
3. Grilled Baby Bok Choy
Ingredients:
- 4 heads of baby bok choy
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 lemon, halved
Instructions:
- Preheat your grill to medium heat.
- Slice the baby bok choy in half lengthwise.
- Brush the bok choy with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill the bok choy cut-side down for about 3 minutes, then flip and grill for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the grilled bok choy before serving.
With these simple recipes, you’ll be able to showcase baby bok choy’s versatility while enjoying its numerous health benefits. Enjoy cooking and eating this wonderfully nutritious vegetable!
Growing baby bok choy is a rewarding experience. It’s a quick-growing vegetable that thrives in containers, making it ideal for patio gardens. Here are some tips on how to grow it:
1. Choosing a Container: A container that is at least 6-8 inches deep and wide is adequate. Bok choy doesn’t have a deep root system, making it suitable for shallow containers. Ensure your container has good drainage to prevent water-logged soil.
2. Soil and Fertilizer: Use a well-draining potting mix. Bok choy prefers soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Add a slow-release vegetable fertilizer to your potting mix before planting for best results.
3. Planting: Sow your seeds directly into the container. Plant seeds about a quarter-inch deep and 1-2 inches apart. If you’re growing for the baby leaves, you can plant them closer together.
4. Light and Temperature: Bok choy enjoys a lot of light, so place your container in a sunny spot where it can get at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. It’s a cool-weather crop and does well in temperatures between 55°F and 70°F (12-21°C).
5. Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Watering in the morning can help prevent diseases.
6. Harvesting: Baby bok choy grows quickly. Depending on the variety, you can begin harvesting as soon as 30 days after planting. Some quick harvest varieties include “Joi Choi,” which matures in 50 days, and “Toy Choi,” which matures in just 30 days. Harvest by cutting the whole plant at soil level, or pick individual outer leaves as needed for a cut-and-come-again crop.
7. Succession Planting: For a continuous harvest, plant new seeds every 2 weeks.
With these tips, you can enjoy fresh, home-grown baby bok choy from your patio garden in no time!
