by johnah on October 30, 2020
What Is Baby Bok Choy?
Baby Bok Choy (Bok Choy) is a type of Chinese cabbage with small leaves and green stems. Its name comes from its resemblance to the human foetus. It grows wild in China and Japan, but it’s not cultivated commercially there yet. However, it’s grown in many countries around the world where people eat it regularly, including North America, Australia and Europe.
The plant is native to China and Japan, where it was used as a vegetable since ancient times. It’s been cultivated in some parts of Asia, Africa and South America for centuries. Today, baby bok choy is commonly found in grocery stores across the U.S., especially in California.
How To Grow Baby Bok Choy?
Growing baby bok choy is easy. You just need to buy a bag of the fresh greens at your local supermarket or farmer’s market. They’re usually available year round, although they may be hard to find during the winter months. If you live in an area where spring and summer temperatures are milder than average, then baby bok choy will grow well even if it doesn’t get enough sunlight.
You can plant it directly in your garden. Choose an open, sunny spot that has fertile, well-draining soil. If your garden soil is heavy and wet, dig in some organic matter to improve its texture. Measure the area and dig a hole that is one and a half times as wide and deep.
To grow baby bok choy to perfection, you need to mix some compost in with the soil. Compost is affordable and improves the texture and quality of the soil.
After you prepare the soil, plant individual seeds, seedlings or sets about an inch deep and around 2 inches apart. Water them thoroughly after planting them. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. It’s best to water in the morning so that the foliage can dry off during the day.
This helps to prevent disease.
How To Cook Baby Bok Choy?
Baby bok choy nutrition includes high levels of Vitamin A, which is essential for good vision and a healthy immune system. It also contains high levels of Vitamin C and folic acid. After you prepare baby bok choy, you can eat it in many different ways. One of the most popular methods is to cook it with garlic, chili peppers and ginger. It tastes great stir fried with these ingredients.
Is Baby Bok Choy The Same As Pak Choy?
No. Although they are both types of bok choy, baby bok choy is a different plant altogether. Pak choy, also known as Chinese white cabbage, has a larger head and thicker stems than baby bok choy. It has a stronger flavor and requires longer cooking to make it palatable for most people. It’s often eaten in soup in Asian countries.
Baby bok choy has a mild flavor and cooks in just a few minutes. You can achieve perfectly cooked bok choy by stir-frying it quickly over high heat. It tastes great with garlic and ginger, so this is one of the best ways to eat it.
How To Store Baby Bok Choy?
Baby bok choy is best used within a couple of days of purchase. It can be stored in the refrigerator for a short time, but keep in mind that it will wilt quickly due to its low moisture content. If you can’t use it within a couple of days, freeze it immediately in freezer safe bags. It will retain most of its flavor and texture when frozen. Defrost it by placing the bag under cold running water for 15 minutes or so. You can then use it in soups or any recipe that calls for cooked greens.
Baby bok choy nutrition facts are sure to make this delicious vegetable a favorite in your house. It’s easy to cook and tastes great, too! So the next time you go to the market, grab yourself a bunch or two of this wonderful veggie.
Sources & references used in this article:
Phenolic Component Profiles of Mustard Greens, Yu Choy, and 15 Other Brassica Vegetables by LZ Lin, JM Harnly – Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2010 – ACS Publications
Measurements of nitrous oxide emissions from vegetable production in China by Z Xiong, Y Xie, G Xing, Z Zhu, C Butenhoff – Atmospheric Environment, 2006 – Elsevier
Net ecosystem carbon budget, net global warming potential and greenhouse gas intensity in intensive vegetable ecosystems in China by JX Jia, YC Ma, ZQ Xiong – Agriculture, ecosystems & environment, 2012 – Elsevier
Annual N2O and CH4 emissions from intensively managed vegetable fields in Nanjing, China by J Jia, L Sun, X Kong, X Yan, Z Xiong – Soil science and plant …, 2012 – Taylor & Francis
The alpha-linolenic acid content of green vegetables commonly available in Australia by C Pereira, D Li, AJ Sinclair – International journal for vitamin …, 2001 – econtent.hogrefe.com
A practical approach to minimize the interaction of dietary vitamin K with warfarin by KD Shuler, SJ Nie, PAN Shuler – Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc, 2001
Infants and toddlers meet the natural world by CH Chang, YW Wang, PY Yeh Liu… – Journal of clinical …, 2014 – Wiley Online Library
Asian crops overview: Consumer preference and cultivar growth on the east coast of the United States by JD McHenry, KJ Buerk – Young Children, 2008 – dividereadyby5.org
Categories:
Tags:
No Tag
Post navigation
Previous post Using Thyme For Lawn Substitute: Growing A Creeping Thyme Lawn
Post navigation
Next post What Is Bladderpod: Learn How To Grow Bladderpod Plants