When to plant bok choy in Goldendale, WA

Plant bok choy in the garden in Goldendale Apr 7 – May 12, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Mar 3–17. For a fall harvest, plant again Jul 31 – Aug 14.

Easy Plant seeds or young plants

Why these dates

Goldendale's typical last spring frost is May 19. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 6 weeks before that.

Inland Northwest. Higher, colder interior valleys. Cold springs and an earlier fall mean a shorter season; quick-maturing varieties pay off.

Difficulty: Easy
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Spacing: 6 to 10 inches apart
Planting depth: ¼ inch deep
Frost: Handles light frost
First harvest: About 45 days after planting

Step by step

Start seeds indoors Mar 3–17 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden Apr 7 – May 12, 6 to 10 inches apart. If you plant seeds instead, sow them ¼ inch deep.
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Plant again Jul 31 – Aug 14 for a fall harvest.
Harvest: Cut baby bok choy at about 6 inches tall, or whole heads at full size. Harvest before a flower stalk appears.

Varieties that do well here

Joi Choi
Toy Choy (baby size)
Mei Qing Choi

Watch out for

Flea beetles and slugs chew the leaves. Row cover and iron phosphate slug bait handle both.

Bolts as days lengthen, so get spring sowings in early. Fall crops are the easiest.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Goldendale, WA?

Typically May 19. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 9. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Goldendale.

Is it too late to plant bok choy in Goldendale?

The spring planting window runs through May 12. If you miss it, plant again for fall from July 31 to August 14.

When should I start bok choy from seed indoors in Goldendale?

March 3 to March 17, which is 5 to 3 weeks before the April 7 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Goldendale around the same time

Planting dates for bok choy in nearby areas

Yakima, WA Mar 27 – May 1
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA Mar 20 – Apr 24
Walla Walla, WA Mar 20 – Apr 24
Moses Lake, WA Mar 20 – Apr 24
Ellensburg, WA Apr 1 – May 6
Ephrata and Quincy, WA Mar 20 – Apr 24

Full planting calendar for Goldendale · Bok choy in every city