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Growing food in the city comes with its own set of challenges, but bok choy handles them all. This plant is built for balcony containers, rooftop pots, or even a sunny windowsill. It stays compact, which makes it the perfect fit for a cramped apartment. You get farm-to-table freshness without needing an actual backyard. There is something incredibly satisfying about picking fresh greens for dinner right outside your window. It is a simple way to eat better and live a bit more sustainably in the middle of NYC.
Bok Choy prefers 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. Partial shade tolerated. Indoors: Grow in pots with bright light or hydroponically using grow lights for 10-12 hours.
Keep the soil damp. Bok choy thrives with regular watering, so aim for a consistent moisture level. Indoor plants need a quick daily check to ensure the soil isn't drying out. For those outdoor balcony or rooftop pots, water even more often during a heatwave. A bit of mulch goes a long way in holding that moisture where it belongs.
Bok Choy is a cool weather crop and enjoys 55-75°F, ideally 60-70°F. Plant outdoors in March-May and August-September in NYC zone 7b. Indoors, maintain 60-70°F year-round.
Indoors: 8-10" wide, 8" deep, 1 gallon. Outdoors: 8-10" wide, 8-10" deep, 2-3 gallons
Bok Choy thrives in rich, well-draining soil with organic matter, such as compost from kitchen scraps or well-rotted manure.
Apply high-nitrogen fertilizer 20-10-10 every 3-4 weeks.
Organic Options: fish emulsion, blood meal. Consistent fertilization supports rapid, leafy growth.
Harvest outer leaves or whole heads of bok choy as needed. Regular harvesting promotes continuous production.
Quick: 5-6 Weeks
Bok choy is a powerhouse veggie, rich in Vitamin C and E, as well as selenium, which helps protect cells from damage and supports thyroid function.
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