How to Grow Asian Greens
Brassica rapa
Asian greens are fast, cool-season crops for full sun (light shade in summer) and fertile, well-drained soil. Sow little-and-often for continuous harvests: spring and late summer/autumn are prime windows; protect winter sowings with cloches or fleece. Heat and drought trigger bolting—keep moist and consider partial shade in midsummer. Harvest as baby leaves or mature heads/rosettes. Guard against flea beetle on young leaves with covers.
When to Start
Direct sow outdoors as soon as soil reaches 6°C — typically early to mid spring. Can also be started indoors 3 weeks earlier for a head start.
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Growth Stages
Approximate days from start
Care Essentials
- Nitrogen-rich liquid feed every 2 weeks. Keep consistently moist.
- Includes pak choi, tatsoi, and choy sum. Sow from July onwards to avoid bolting. Grow under fine mesh for flea beetle.
Growing Conditions
- Min. soil temperature
- 6°C+
- Germination temperature
- 15–25°C
- Sow indoors
- —
- Transplant out
- —
- First harvest
- —
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Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 20 cm |
| Row spacing | 30 cm |
| Sow depth | 1 cm |
| Mature height | 30 cm |
| Mature spread | 25 cm |
For medium-sized greens like Bok Choy or Tatsoi. Smaller, cut-and-come-again greens can be sown more densely.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Flea Beetle
Identification: Tiny round shot-holes peppered across leaves, small shiny black beetles that jump when disturbed
- Cover with fine mesh or fleece immediately after sowing
- Keep soil moist to encourage fast growth through damage
- Companion plant with taller crops to provide shade
- Pyrethrin-based sprays as a last resort
Pest Slugs and Snails
Identification: Large irregular holes in leaves, slime trails, worst damage overnight and in wet weather
- Beer traps
- Nematode biological control (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita)
- Copper barriers around beds
- Evening hand-picking
- Ferric phosphate slug pellets
Pest Cabbage White Caterpillars
Identification: Green or yellow-striped caterpillars on leaves, large ragged holes, frass visible
- Fine mesh netting to exclude butterflies
- Hand-pick caterpillars and eggs
- Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray
- Pyrethrin-based insecticides
Disease Downy Mildew Hyaloperonospora parasitica
Symptoms: Yellow patches on upper leaf surfaces with grey-white fuzzy growth underneath
Treatment: Remove affected leaves promptly, improve air circulation
Prevention: Avoid overhead watering, space plants well, grow in open airy positions
Disease Club Root Plasmodiophora brassicae
Symptoms: Stunted growth, wilting in warm weather despite moist soil, swollen and distorted roots
Treatment: No cure once soil is infected — remove and destroy affected plants
Prevention: Lime soil to pH 7+, improve drainage, strict 4-year brassica rotation, start in modules with clean compost
Growing Conditions
| Min. soil temperature | 6°C |
| Germination temperature | 15–25°C |
| Base growth temperature | 4°C |
| Min. daylength to start | 9h |
| Photoperiod sensitivity | long day |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How far apart should I plant Asian Greens?
- Plant Asian Greens 20cm apart with 30cm between rows.
- When can I harvest Asian Greens?
- Asian Greens is ready to harvest approximately 35 days after transplanting.
- Is Asian Greens frost hardy?
- Asian Greens is classified as Hardy.
