Don’t baby your garden — my love-hate relationship with bok choy

Every fall I flip through seed catalog dreaming of the bountiful harvest that is soon to come. And every year I fall into the same trap. Baby bok choy.

I’m on the constant lookout for quick crops to grow in the shoulder season in by pepper and tomato beds. I love bok choy, but I don’t want it taking up valuable garden space for 2-3 months. Here comes baby bok choy to the rescue. The same tasty Asian green, but in half the time? Where do I sign up? If I’m lucky, I might even get 2 crops!

Alas, anemic bok choy that bolts with just a handful of leaves with skinny stems. I give them sun. I give them fertilizer. I start them indoors to get a head start. I’ve tried different varieties. Maybe my dream of a sea of miniature bok choy is not to be.

As I harvest what leaves are to be had, I assure myself I won’t fall for the siren call of the baby bok choy again. I know all along, I’ll be playing this game next year.

Keep Going, Keep Growing

Appreciate you stopping by. I post guides, tools, and lessons learned from the work — so stick around, explore a bit, and let me know what you'd add.

Tend what you have. The rest can wait.

— Ryan

Alder Branch Homestead