When to plant bok choy in Shelton, WA

Plant bok choy in the garden in Shelton Mar 16 – Apr 20, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Feb 9–23. For a fall harvest, plant again Aug 20 – Sep 3.

Easy Plant seeds or young plants

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

Why these dates

Shelton's typical last spring frost is April 27. 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.

How to grow bok choy in Shelton

Start seeds indoors Feb 9–23 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 16 – Apr 20, 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.

Key numbers

45–85°FSoil to sprout
6.0–7.5Soil pH
About 30–45Days to harvest
Bolting, flea beetlesBiggest risk

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Soil and feeding

Bok choy grows fast and wants rich, moist soil with compost and a pH of about 6.0 to 7.5. Leafy crops like it need nitrogen, so mix in a balanced fertilizer at planting. Keep the soil evenly moist; dry soil makes stems stringy and pushes plants toward flowering. Space according to the size you want: closer for baby bok choy like Toy Choy, wider for full heads like Joi Choi.

What makes bok choy bolt

Two things push bok choy to flower: long days and a spell of chilly weather while plants are young. A week or more of nights below about 50°F after transplanting can trigger bolting later, even if the plant looks fine. That's why spring crops in the Northwest are tricky and why the guide calls fall crops the easiest. Sow or transplant spring bok choy once the worst cold is past, protect it with row cover, and harvest early. For fall, sow in mid to late summer so plants mature in shortening, cool days. Mei Qing Choi is known for holding well.

Pests and harvest

Flea beetles riddle young leaves in spring, and slugs hide in the stems during wet Northwest weather. Row cover from sowing day and iron phosphate slug bait handle both, and cabbage worms are kept out by the same cover. Harvest baby plants at about 6 inches tall, or cut full heads at the base before a flower stalk appears. You can also pick outer leaves over time. Bok choy keeps about a week in the fridge in a bag.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Shelton, WA?

Typically April 27. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 12. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Shelton Sanderson Field.

Is it too late to plant bok choy in Shelton?

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

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

February 9 to February 23, which is 5 to 3 weeks before the March 16 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Why is my bok choy bolting?

Long spring days and chilly nights after planting both trigger flowering. Plant in late summer for fall harvest, or wait for milder spring weather and harvest young. Steady watering helps too.

What is eating holes in my bok choy?

Small round holes are usually flea beetles; bigger ragged holes and slime trails mean slugs. Row cover keeps out flea beetles, and iron phosphate bait controls slugs safely.

Can I harvest bok choy more than once?

Yes. Pick outer leaves as needed, or cut the whole plant an inch above the soil and it may regrow smaller leaves. Harvest before it starts to flower.

Also plant in Shelton around the same time

Planting dates for bok choy in nearby areas

Seattle and Tacoma, WA Mar 1 – Apr 5
Everett, WA Mar 1 – Apr 5
Olympia, WA Mar 18 – Apr 22
Kent, Renton and Auburn, WA Mar 1 – Apr 5
Bremerton and Port Orchard, WA Mar 1 – Apr 5
Portland, OR Mar 1 – Apr 5

Full planting calendar for Shelton · Bok choy in every city