How to Grow Choy Sum

The Australian Department of Primary Industry says that choy sum, also called Chinese flowering cabbage, is one of the most popular vegetables in China. The tender leaves and flowering shoots of choy sum are used raw in salads, or lightly steamed, fried or boiled in stir fries and other dishes like soups or stews. Choy sum is a relatively easy plant to grow, and you harvest leaves within two to three weeks of sowing.

Composted organic matter or aged manure
Spade
Choy sum seeds
High-nitrogen fertilizer
Sharp knife

Instructions

- 1
  Till around 3 to 4 inches of composted organic matter or aged manure into the top 12 inches of a sunny, well-draining garden bed, at least a week before planting, preferably two to three weeks prior.
- 2
  Form the garden bed into small rows approximately 5 inches tall and spaced 12 inches apart, after the compost or manure has had time to incorporate into the garden bed soil.
- 3
  Sow a choy sum seed every 7 to 10 inches along the top of the rows, around 1/2-inch deep in the soil.
- 4
  Water the garden bed daily, keeping soil moist but not waterlogged.
- 5
  Side-dress the choy sum with high-nitrogen fertilizer a week after the first shoots emerge, and again two weeks later.
- 6
  Watch for the emergence of flower buds. Once buds are fully formed but not yet open -- typically a month to month and a half after sowing -- cut the whole plant off at the base with a sharp knife. If left after this period, the choy sum bolts and the leaves and stems become tough and less palatable.

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