Bok Choy in Zone 11a & 11b
Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
When to plant bok choy in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Bok Choy tolerates either.
| Start indoors | Nov 27–Dec 4 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 1–Jan 8 |
| Estimated harvest | Feb 20–Feb 27 (~50 days after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1 ft.

Bok choy is one of the fastest vegetables you can put in the ground, ready in under two months, and its crunchy white stalks and tender leaves work in everything from stir-fries to soups. It's also one of the quickest to ruin if you plant it at the wrong time of year.
How bok choy fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free in this dataset, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Good companions
- Carrot: Non-competing root/leaf pairing. (usually zones 2-10, so not a pairing for zone 11b)
- Onion: Onion scent may help mask bok choy from pests. (usually zones 3-10, so not a pairing for zone 11b)
Where to buy bok choy seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing bok choy" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

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Growing Bok Choy in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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