Bok Choy Spacing: How Far Apart to Plant

Bok choy, also known commonly as pak choi or sui bak choy, and botanically as Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis, is a non-heading cabbage that is native to China.

There are dwarf types, called baby leaf bok choy, as well as full-size cultivars.

These plants may have white stalks and crumpled dark green leaves, light green stalks with light green leaves, or light green stalks with purple leaves.

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In our bok choy growing guide, you’ll find all you need to know to raise your own crop, including sowing for summer and fall harvests, and recommended cultivars.

In this article, we zero in on the proper spacing of bok choy plants.

Here’s what’s in store:

This is easy. Let’s jump right in!

Bok choy heights range from three- to four-inch baby leaf types to 24-inch full-size varieties.

Plants require between three and 12 inches between them, depending upon the type, to accommodate mature widths.

Talking about plant spacing reminds me of the movie Dirty Dancing, when Patrick Swayze is teaching Jennifer Grey to dance, and says, “Look, spaghetti arms. This is my dance space. This is your dance space. I don’t go into yours. You don’t go into mine. You gotta hold the frame.”

Plants are a lot like those dancers. They need room to spread out and perform, without anyone or anything getting in their way.

If you plant crops too close together, especially those of the same species, they will compete for nutrients, room to grow, and water. 

To determine sowing intervals, read seed packets, product tags, and catalog descriptions. Mature widths indicate how much space cultivars