Flowering pak choi
Kathy N
Hi, Erika! Growing pak choi is like growing lettuce, broccoli, etc. - you want leaves, or in the case of broccoli, flowerheads that haven't flowered yet. Your plants are bolting (just a gardening term for flowering when you don't really want them to) and, according to some opinions, that means the plants have passed their prime time for harvest. Flavour may be lost once the plant starts to use energy for flower and seed production. Bolting is usually weather related (warm, dry conditions) and you can buy varieties that are more bolt resistant than others. I would suggest harvesting the ones that are flowering and give them a taste test. If you like them, great - many pak choi growers like the taste of flower stems. However, letting the stalks grow usually means smaller leaves. In future, if you didn't already, you might want to try raising these from seed - buying young plants means they are that much closer to flowering. Raised by seed, you have a little more time/control to harvest before flower stalks get too large. Hope this has been helpful!
Kathy C.
Replied: Wednesday 11th of June 2008 10:33 AM
