All About Growing Asian Greens

Types of Asian Greens

HOW TO GROW ASIAN GREENS

Quick Beginner Tips

• Grow most Asian greens in cooler months to avoid bolting.
• Use rich soil with compost.
• Keep soil evenly moist for tender leaves.
• Harvest outer leaves often to encourage regrowth.
• Protect seedlings from snails and cabbage moths.

1. Choose a Variety

Easy Bigginer Variety:

Easy Variety	Best Season in Sydney	Notes
Bok choy	Autumn–spring	Very fast and reliable
Choy sum	Autumn–spring	Quick harvest
Mizuna	Autumn–spring	Hard to fail
Komatsuna	Autumn–spring	Handles variable weather
Tatsoi	Cool season	Good in pots
Malabar spinach	Late spring–summer	Heat-loving vine

2. Growing Timeline

Month	Growth Stage	Tasks
July	Preparation & Germination	Prepare soil with compost, sow seeds, keep soil moist, protect seedlings from snails
August	Seedling Growth	Thin seedlings, light feeding, weed control, monitor pests
September	Fast Leaf Growth	Start harvesting baby leaves, fertilise, mulch, succession sow every 2–3 weeks
October	Mature Growth & Harvest	Harvest regularly, water deeply, continue feeding, replant new batches
November	Heat Stress & Bolting Risk	Provide afternoon shade, water more often, harvest quickly before flowering
December	Summer Greens Growth	Grow kangkong or Malabar spinach, mulch heavily, water daily in hot weather
January	Summer Maintenance	Harvest often, control aphids/caterpillars, maintain watering and shade
February	Soil Refresh & Sowing	Add compost, start cool-season sowing again, protect seedlings from heat
March	Strong Vegetative Growth	Sow heavily, feed every 2 weeks, thin plants, harvest baby greens
April	Peak Harvest Season	Heavy harvesting, succession sowing, remove damaged leaves
May	Slow Steady Growth	Continue harvesting, light feeding, protect from heavy rain and slugs
June	Winter Maintenance	Harvest mature plants, avoid overwatering, clean beds, prepare for July sowing

3. Growing Conditions

• Rich, well-draining soil (6.0-7.0ph).
• 4–6+ hours sun; afternoon shade in warm weather.
• Cool to mild weather (10–24°C).

4. Planting

0. Prepare soil:

• Loosen soil deeply and remove rocks or hard clumps.
• Mix in compost before planting.

1. Planting Steps

From Seeds

1. Sow seeds shallowly (about 5–10 mm deep, 15–40 cm depending on variety).
2. Keep soil moist until germination.
3. Thin seedlings once true leaves appear.
4. Space plants properly for airflow.

Spacing Guide

Plant Size	Spacing
Baby leaf harvest	5–10 cm apart
Medium plants	15–20 cm apart
Large heading types	30–40 cm apart

From Seedlings

1. Plant at the same depth as nursery pots.
2. Water immediately after transplanting.
3. Protect young plants from strong sun for a few days.

2. POT Planting

• Different Asian greens need different pot depths and widths depending on their root size and growth habit.

Pot Size Guide

Asian Green	Minimum Pot Depth	Recommended Pot Width	Plants Per Pot
Bok choy (baby)	15 cm	20–25 cm	2–4
Bok choy (full size)	20–25 cm	30–40 cm	1–2
Choy sum	20 cm	25–30 cm	2–3
Gai lan	25–30 cm	30–40 cm	1–2
Tatsoi	15–20 cm	20–30 cm	2–4
Mizuna	15–20 cm	20–30 cm	2–4
Komatsuna	20 cm	25–30 cm	2–3
Mustard greens	20–25 cm	30–40 cm	1–2
Napa cabbage	30–40 cm	40–50 cm	1
Kangkong (water spinach)	20–30 cm	Wide container preferred	Several
Malabar spinach	30–40 cm	40+ cm with trellis	1

5. Watering

Stage	Watering Needs
Germination	Keep soil constantly moist
Seedling stage	Light regular watering
Mature growth	Deep watering 2–3 times weekly
Hot weather	Increase frequency
Winter	Reduce watering slightly

Tips

• Uneven watering can cause bolting or bitterness.
• Water at soil level to reduce disease.
• Avoid letting soil dry out completely.

6. Supporting & Pruning

Supporting: Most Asian greens do not require support.

Type	Support Needed
Bok choy	Usually none
Mizuna	None
Tatsoi	None
Napa cabbage	None
Gai lan	Rarely needed
Tall flowering varieties	Light stake if windy

Pruning:

Task	Method
Remove damaged leaves	Cut near base
Thin overcrowded seedlings	Improve airflow
Remove flowering stems	Slows bolting
Cut-and-come-again harvest	Pick outer leaves first

Tips

• Avoid removing too many leaves because roots need them for growth.

7. Feeding

Stage	Fertiliser
Before planting	Compost or aged manure
Early growth	Liquid seaweed
Leaf growth	Nitrogen-rich fertiliser
Every 2–3 weeks	Liquid organic feed

Avoid

• Overfeeding in hot weather
• Excess nitrogen late in growth

8. Pollination

Requirement	Details
Needed for leaf harvest?	No
Needed for seed saving?	Yes
Pollinated by	Bees and insects

9. Common Problems

Problem	Symptoms	Solution
Bolting	Flower stalks appear early	Grow in cooler weather, keep watered
Aphids	Clusters of tiny insects	Spray water or insecticidal soap
Caterpillars	Holes in leaves	Use netting or hand-pick
Slugs/snails	Chewed seedlings	Beer traps or snail bait
Yellow leaves	Nutrient deficiency or overwatering	Feed lightly and improve drainage
Root rot	Wilting in wet soil	Improve drainage, avoid overwatering
Flea beetles	Tiny holes in leaves	Use insect netting
Powdery mildew	White powder on leaves	Improve airflow, avoid wet foliage

10. Harvesting

Type	Harvest Time
Baby leaves	3–4 weeks
Full plants	5–10 weeks
Cut-and-come-again	Ongoing

Harvest Tips

• Harvest in morning for best freshness.
• Pick outer leaves first.
• Harvest before flowering for best flavor.

11. Storage

Method	Storage Time
Refrigerator	5–10 days
Wrapped in damp towel	Longer freshness
Washed and dried	Ready-to-use storage
Freezing	Possible after blanching

Storage Tips

• Store in vegetable crisper.
• Avoid sealing wet leaves in airtight bags.
• Use quickly for best texture and flavor.

(Source: chatGPT)