Rainline Garden

When to plant bok choy in Yakima, WA

Plant bok choy in the garden in Yakima Mar 27 – May 1, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Feb 20 – Mar 6. For a fall harvest, plant again Aug 9–23.

Easy Plant seeds or young plants

Why these dates

Yakima's typical last spring frost is May 8. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 6 weeks before that.

Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.

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

  1. Start seeds indoors Feb 20 – Mar 6 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.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden Mar 27 – May 1, 6 to 10 inches apart. If you plant seeds instead, sow them ¼ inch deep.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Plant again Aug 9–23 for a fall harvest.
  6. 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 Yakima, WA?

Typically May 8. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 27. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Yakima Air Terminal.

Is it too late to plant bok choy in Yakima?

The spring planting window runs through May 1. If you miss it, plant again for fall from August 9 to August 23.

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

February 20 to March 6, which is 5 to 3 weeks before the March 27 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Yakima around the same time

Planting dates for bok choy in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Yakima · Bok choy in every city