When to plant bok choy in McMinnville and Newberg, OR

Plant bok choy in the garden in McMinnville and Newberg Mar 4 – Apr 8, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Jan 28 – Feb 11. For a fall harvest, plant again Aug 20 – Sep 3.

Easy Plant seeds or young plants

Why these dates

McMinnville and Newberg's typical last spring frost is April 15. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 6 weeks before that.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

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 Jan 28 – Feb 11 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 Mar 4 – Apr 8, 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 Aug 20 – Sep 3 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 McMinnville and Newberg, OR?

Typically April 15. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 6. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for McMinnville Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant bok choy in McMinnville and Newberg?

The spring planting window runs through April 8. If you miss it, plant again for fall from August 20 to September 3.

When should I start bok choy from seed indoors in McMinnville and Newberg?

January 28 to February 11, which is 5 to 3 weeks before the March 4 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in McMinnville and Newberg around the same time

Planting dates for bok choy in nearby areas

Salem, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5
Eugene, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5
Corvallis and Albany, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5
Cottage Grove, OR Mar 13 – Apr 17
Portland, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5
Gresham, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5

Full planting calendar for McMinnville and Newberg · Bok choy in every city