Bok Choy in Zone 8a & 8b
Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
Yes, bok choy grows in zones 8a and 8b. Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Feb 25 and plant out Mar 25–Apr 1.
When to plant bok choy in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Feb 18–Feb 25 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 25–Apr 1 |
| Estimated harvest | May 14–May 21 (~50 days after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of bok choy in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- CabbageMar 11–Mar 18
- TomatoApr 8–Apr 15
- Bush BeansApr 1–Apr 8
- Sweet CornApr 1–Apr 8
- LettuceMar 11–Mar 18
- CucumberApr 1–Apr 8
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 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Bok choy needs about 50 days from sowing to first harvest.
Bok Choy planting windows in every zone
Zone 8b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 15–Apr 22 | May 20–May 27 | Jul 9–Jul 16 |
| 3a & 3b | Apr 25–May 2 | May 30–Jun 6 | Jul 19–Jul 26 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 10–Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | Jul 4–Jul 11 |
| 5a & 5b | Apr 5–Apr 12 | May 10–May 17 | Jun 29–Jul 6 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 21–Mar 28 | Apr 25–May 2 | Jun 14–Jun 21 |
| 7a & 7b | Mar 6–Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | May 30–Jun 6 |
| 8a & 8b (your zone) | Feb 18–Feb 25 | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 14–May 21 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 11–Jan 18 | Feb 15–Feb 22 | Apr 6–Apr 13 |
| 10a & 10b | Dec 26–Jan 2 | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 21–Mar 28 |
| 11a & 11b | Nov 27–Dec 4 | Jan 1–Jan 8 | Feb 20–Feb 27 |
Harvest dates are about 50 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
Where to buy bok choy seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market (each supplier's 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 8b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Bok Choy in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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