Pak Choi Baby Shanghai Greens Seeds (Organic)

Pak Choi Baby Shanghai is an organic, heirloom baby pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis), a biennial grown as an annual and prized for its tender, vase-shaped heads. Compact plants grow quickly to about 5 to 6 inches with juicy dark green, spoon-shaped leaves and pale green ribs that carry a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Each packet holds about 250 seeds.

At a glance

• Botanical name: Brassica rapa var. chinensis
• Type: Heirloom, organic; biennial grown as an annual
• Days to maturity: 35 to 45 days
• Sun: Full sun, tolerates part shade in summer
• Planting depth: 1/4 to 1/2 inch
• Spacing after thinning: 6 to 8 inches
• Height at maturity: 5 to 6 inches
• Approx. seeds per pack: 250 (27,039 per 1/4 lb)

Best for

• Small gardens, raised beds, and containers
• Quick spring and fall harvests
• Stir-fries, soups, steaming, and fresh salads
• Succession planting for a continuous supply
• Cool-climate growers

How to grow

Start in trays indoors 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost, or direct seed at the end of summer for a fall crop; spring direct seeding often bolts early. Sow 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in rich, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and keep moisture even to avoid bitterness. Grow in full sun, or part shade in summer heat. Thin to 6 to 8 inches and succession plant every 2 weeks. Plants bolt in summer heat or if temperatures stay below 50°F for a week. Harvest individual leaves once the center rosette develops, or cut the whole head in 35 to 45 days.

Flavor profile

Baby Shanghai has a mild, slightly sweet taste with crisp, juicy stems. It is excellent pickled, braised, stir-fried, or steamed.

About Grow Organic

Grow Organic (groworganic.com) has supplied organic seeds, soil amendments, beneficial insects, and garden tools to home gardeners and small farms for decades, with a focus on sustainable, chemical-free growing.

Sold by Grow Organic, based in Grass Valley, California.