New organic vegetables can be costly and difficult to obtain, which is why you should think about growing some in your backyard.
Growing pechay is simple, with or without a garden. Pechay can be cultivated in containers too. In fact, as long as you have a space that can house a few 6-inch pots spaced 4 inches apart, you can grow pechay.
Pechay is called bok choi, or pak choi, and it is a type of cabbage that grows a bunch of leaves instead of just the head that forms in a mature cabbage.
Pechay is a very popular vegetable in the Philippines, where it received that name.
How to Grow Organic Pechay
Growing your pechay is a process that involves simple steps.
With the added bonus of performing well in nearly all soil types and almost all temperature zones.
Furthermore, the health benefits of eating pechay will make do it in your diet in addition to saving you money and time.
Health benefits include:
- strengthening human bones
- boosting your immunity
- enhancing anti-cancer factors
- and many other benefits…
How to Sow Pechay Seeds
You’ll now want to use your seed tray to sow your pechay seeds. You can place two seeds in the seed tray slots and cover them with potting soil or compost. You will also want to water them in the morning and evenings.
It usually takes about three days for the seeds to sprout, but they will not be ready to transplant yet.
You need to wait until they have four leaves, which should occur about two weeks after they have sprouted.
Once they have four leaves, they should be ready to be moved into the garden or your containers.
Choose the healthiest plants to transplant.
- It is okay to plant three of them in one container.
- Just make sure to never overcrowd the seedlings, as it will also lead to weak plants stunted in their growth due to the inability to sustain adequate leaf growth.
- The plants have to be at least 4-inches apart.
So plant them in a large container or a garden where pechay plants are evenly spaced for optimal yield and grow better.
Pechay will grow in shady conditions, but they need a little direct sunlight to produce better, and firmer, leaves.
So, you should grow them in a shady section of your garden where they get the best shade and heat. Lack of sunlight decreases the growth of pechay plants and produce unhealthy leaves.
In short, when growing pechay plants, you should balance between getting direct sunlight and getting shade for best growth and the highest yield.
Also, make sure to water your pechay plants every morning and evening if the ground dries quickly. During a hot period, the pechay can scorch and wilt.
Always, during the hot season, plant your pechay under tall trees for shade while still receiving enough direct sunlight every morning.
Watering the pechay frequently also helps them not wilt and in the summertime, you may find yourself watering them more than any other time of year.
Are you wondering why? That is because of the high-temperature summertime dries soil faster, and your pechay would wilt.
When to Apply Fertilizers
Soil can be fertilized prior to transplanting the seedlings.
Before transplanting your seedlings, always mix your organic fertilizer including compost and earthworm castings with the soil.
The condition of the soil will determine the portion of the fertilizer, to mix; soils with a high organic matter content require low fertilizer amounts and vice versa.
After transplanting your seedlings:
- When the time is right, let them grow tall prior to adding fertilizer to increase leaf development and more robust stems.
- Subsequently, you can apply commercial organic fertilizers once the plants cross five centimeters above the ground, in conjunction with weeding the plants.
The amount of fertilizer differs based on the type of commercial organic fertilizer that you have purchased with different required proportions.
Before purchasing, you should read the fertilizers’ labels to determine what is appropriate for your soil and pechay plants.
That also helps you understand different dosage properties for current and future usage.
In addition: You should apply fertilize the pechay after fifteen days to have better results and stop two weeks before harvesting.
When to Harvest Your Pechays
Most pechay plants are fast-growing and are usually ready for harvesting within five weeks.
Actually, for fast-growing plants it can potentially be harvested within one month harvesting pechay leaves after transplanting. Pechay that is grown in the garden generally grows bigger and healthier than the one grown in pots.
However, don’t get me wrong, you can still mix and condition your soil regularly using organic fertilizers; even though the pechay might not be as big, it can certainly produce large amounts.
You could harvest your pechay in either of the following ways:
- Harvest mature leaves by picking them slightly above the ground; re-growth will occur for other leaves to reach maturity within two to three weeks.
- You can also uproot the entire pechay plant.
It’s possible to begin with option one, and then the second approach in the next time frame, as plants generally regrow less for the third harvesting, etc.
How to Handle Pests and Insects
Pechay plants are vulnerable to being infested by pests, especially flea beetles and leaf miners.
You can purchase organic pesticides from the farm store if you like.
Or, you can make your homemade pesticide with water and canola oil; it is just as effective as the organic pesticide sold at the store.
Many of the pests and insects will eat your pechay leaves, or the entire plant:
- Apply your homemade pesticide or soap solution to kill snails, slugs, or insects on your plants.
- You can kill them straight away but avoid chemical insecticides when possible and instead use water.
With regard to snails and slugs, kitchen salt is a possible method for eliminating these creatures and protecting your vegetables.
However, you are free to apply a more potent pesticide if the insects, slugs and snails are widespread and are seriously damaging your pechay plants.
You need to be aware of when the seedlings are beginning the early growth stages, as insects, snails, and slugs tend to attack pechay plants at this time and target the leaves .
Final Thoughts
Overall, pechay, a commonly known member of the brassica family, is a very easy plant to grow and a good choice for new gardeners.
Pechay plants do better in warm, so there is no soil preparation necessary, though pechay can grow in cooler temperatures.
While there are many factors to consider, nothing can take precedence over the pechay yield, which is usually outstanding.