leafy · direct sow
Bok Choy: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating bok choy a few times a week needs about 29 plants in ~29 sq ft, worth about $87 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 8 | ~8 sq ft | ~15 | ~$24 |
| 2 people | 15 | ~15 sq ft | ~27 | ~$45 |
| 4 people | 29 | ~29 sq ft | ~52 | ~$87 |
| 6 people | 43 | ~43 sq ft | ~76 | ~$129 |
Spacing
8" in row · 18" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
50 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 3 – May 1 | Jun 27 – Aug 6 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 29 – Apr 26 | Jul 7 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 16 | Jul 17 – Aug 26 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 9 – Apr 6 | Jul 27 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 22 – Mar 22 | Aug 6 – Sep 15 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 11 – Mar 11 | Aug 27 – Oct 6 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 9 – Feb 6 | Sep 16 – Oct 26 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 20 – Jan 17 | Sep 26 – Nov 5 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Full-size heads with firm white ribs, or take baby heads at 5 to 6 inches. Cut at the base.
Don't wait: Bolts quickly as days lengthen, a stretching center means harvest everything now.
Yield
About 0.75 lbs per plant over ~3 productive weeks (~0.75 lb). Re-sow every ~14 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Cabbage worms & loopers · Aphids · Flea beetles · Black rot · Cabbage root maggot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with garlic, onion, carrot, beet. Keep away from tomato, tomato, tomato.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
13 kcal · 1 g fiber · 45 mg vitamin C · 252 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Bok Choy planting questions
How many bok choy plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 8 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 29 plants, which takes around 29 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does bok choy need?+
Space plants 8" apart in the row with 18" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant bok choy?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing bok choy worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~0.75 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $87 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.