Napa Cabbage growth stages

Napa cabbage, sometimes simply called Chinese cabbage, is a large light green cabbage that produces a sweet and mild flavor.

In Mandarin, it is called dàbáicài (大白菜), which translates to “large white vegetable.” This is in contrast to xiǎo báicài (小白菜), or “little white vegetable,” which is what many of you know as bok choy. In Cantonese, my paternal grandparents called napa cabbage “wong nga bok.”

Planting Chinese Cabbage

Each of these seedlings will produce one napa cabbage. Source: Suzies Farm

Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date in spring or fall, planting seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep. When transplanting seedlings outdoors, be careful not to disturb the roots. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart, in rows at least 18 inches apart. You can sow seeds in the spring directly into the ground as close as 6 inches apart, and thin as they grow. Can also grow in a large container.

Different names for Chinese cabbage

Although Napa cabbage is the most commonly used name for Chinese heading cabbage, the origin of the word is Japanese. In Japan, the word nappa (菜っ葉) refers to vegetable leaves in general, not just those of cabbage.

Due to its popularity and widespread use, Chinese cabbage is found under many names in restaurants and markets around the world. Other names also include winter cabbage, Chinese white cabbage, Pekin (or Beijing) cabbage, wombok (in the Philippines), hakusai (mainly used for a Japanese cultivar), and pe-tsai.

Loosehead Chinese Cabbage

• Loosehead Chinese cabbage includes pac choi, also known as bok choy, and pei tsai. Pac choi and pei tsai have open, loose heads or rosettes of dark green leaves with white stems similar to celery. These are heat tolerant but will thrive if the weather turns from cold to very hot Plant these at 2 to 3 week intervals for a continuous harvest. Loose head varieties can be removed a few stems at a time, cut and come back.

• Heading types include Michihili and Napa; The Michihili has a tall cylindrical or tapered head while the Napa is a short barrel-shaped head. These can be grown like cabbage, although they have a mild flavor, unlike cabbage. When these heads are shaved they reveal dense heads. Cut the whole head at harvest time.

Necessary temperature conditions for Napa cabbage

Temperature is one of the main factors that can determine the success or failure of growth in a given location.

And the temperature is very effective in different stages of growing a plant like cabbage.