When to plant bok choyin Melbourne.

Growing bok choy in Melbourne: the specifics

Melbourne is famous for having four seasons in one day, and its vegetable gardens reflect this unpredictability. Sitting in a cool-temperate zone, Melbourne endures cold, wet winters with regular frosts in outer suburbs, and dry, hot summers that can push past 40°C. The spring and autumn shoulder seasons are the sweet spot: mild temperatures make September-November and March-May the most productive planting windows for home gardeners. For bok choy, the productive window in Melbourne is february-may, august-november. Within that window, Bok choy is a cool-season brassica that grows rapidly and is one of the most satisfying quick-turnaround crops in the raised bed garden. In Australian conditions, it thrives in autumn, winter, and spring, and can be grown in the cooler months in subtropical and tropical climates. Sow seeds direct 5mm deep in rows 30cm apart, or start in seedling trays and transplant when seedlings have 2-3 true leaves (3-4 weeks). Transplanting is generally successful with bok choy, unlike some brassicas, provided roots are not disturbed and seedlings are well-watered in. Thin or plant seedlings to 20cm spacing for full-size heads. For baby bok choy (harvested at 10-15cm), sow densely and harvest alternates to let remaining plants grow on. Bok choy grows best in rich, moisture-retentive soil. Feed with a high-nitrogen liquid fertiliser every 2 weeks, nitrogen produces lush, tender leaves. Mulch around plants to retain moisture and keep roots cool. Consistent moisture is critical; drought stress immediately triggers bolting. Sow every 3-4 weeks through the cool season for continuous supply, this is one of the easiest crops to succession plant because of its speed and reliability. In subtropical climates, autumn, winter, and spring sowing avoids both the high heat of summer and the possibility of bolting in very short-day winter conditions.

Sizing it for your household

Plant 12-16 plants in succession for a family of 4; sow a new batch every 3 weeks through the cool season 200-600g per plant depending on size at harvest. Plant Planner does this maths automatically once you tell it your household size, it’s the part most planners get wrong because they assume every household is the same.

The 20 cm spacing (with 30 cm between rows) means a standard 1.2 m × 2.4 m raised bed in Melbourne can hold 48 bok choy plants at maximum density, though in practice you’ll want to mix companions in, so plan for roughly 60-70% of that.

Companion plants for Melbourne

Good companions for bok choy include Dill, Marigold, Celery, Beetroot. In Melbourne’s temperate/cool climate, these pairings reduce pest pressure and improve pollination. Keep bok choy away from Tomato, Pepper, Fennel, they fight for the same nutrients or attract shared pests.

Melbourne-specific tips

• Melbourne's notorious 'four seasons in one day' weather means always have frost cloth ready from April through October, sudden cold snaps can damage tender seedlings even in spring.
• The dry, hot northerly winds in summer (particularly January-February) can desiccate plants overnight, water in the morning and mulch heavily.
• Melbourne's cold winters are perfect for broad beans and garlic, both need cool temperatures to produce well, making April-June planting essential.

Common problems

Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars are the primary pest, use fine insect exclusion netting or Bt spray. Use netting from the moment of transplanting for best results. Flea beetles create small round holes in leaves, minor damage does not affect yield significantly. Aphids cluster on young plants; treat with insecticidal soap. Club root is a soilborne disease affecting all brassicas, maintain pH above 7.0 and practice 4-year crop rotation in affected beds.

Harvest

Harvest bok choy by cutting the whole plant at the base when it has formed a compact head. Baby bok choy is harvested at 10-15cm; full-size at 25-35cm. Alternatively, harvest outer leaves individually for a cut-and-come-again approach, plants can produce for 4-6 weeks this way. For the sweetest flavour, harvest in the morning after a cold night.