Planting seeds in June
The vegetable garden is currently packed with growing plants, heading into summer at full speed. This is the perfect time to consider a second sowing round, extending the harvest into autumn and beyond. Here's a guide on how to grow Pak choi and Poached egg plant during June.
Pak Choi
Pak choi is a fast-growing vegetable that tolerates warm weather if properly watered. To grow Pak choi for a second round of sowing in June, you can:
- Sow fresh seeds directly into your garden soil in June.
- Alternatively, you can regrow Pak choi from kitchen scraps. Save about an inch of the baby Pak choi, place it in a dish with water near a window, and within a couple of weeks, new leaves will start growing from the center. After that, transplant it into soil to continue growing.
Pak choi grows well year-round, with peak seasons in early spring and fall, but midsummer sowing is feasible especially with fast-growing varieties. When grown as baby leaves, Pak choi can provide flavors without the need for a cool autumn growing season. Sowing Pak choi directly into the ground and snipping the seedlings at 10cm tall is a solution to growing it as baby leaves in summer.
Poached Egg Plant
Also known as A-Choy lettuce or Stink Bean in some contexts, Poached egg plant matures in 75 to 85 days after planting. It peaks during late spring and early summer. For a second round in June, sow seeds directly into well-prepared soil, ensure the plants have full to partial sunlight, and keep the soil moist. Harvest young leaves for best flavor; harvesting the entire plant usually happens at maturity.
Poached egg plant is used to cheer up a dull corner of the garden. It has cupped flowers with egg-yolk yellow centers and lavender-blue Night-scented stock flowers, which are attractive to moths. Both Poached egg plant and Night-scented stock are easy to grow by sowing them directly into any patch of ground. To support Night-scented stock, you can use peasticks.
In summary, for a second sowing round in June:
- Sow Pak choi seeds directly or regrow from scraps in water and transplant.
- Sow Poached egg plant seeds directly; expect around 2-3 months to maturity, harvest young leaves if desired sooner.
- Both prefer consistent moisture and good sunlight during warm months.
This approach should support a successful second round of growing for both crops in your garden during June and midsummer. Happy gardening!
[1] Regrowing Pak choi from kitchen scraps: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/regrow-pak-choi-kitchen-scraps [2] Pak choi growing guide: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=42 [3] Poached egg plant (A-Choy lettuce) growing guide: https://www.almanac.com/plant/poached-egg-plant [4] Pak choi growing seasons: https://www.almanac.com/plant/pak-choi [5] Poached egg plant peak seasons: https://www.almanac.com/plant/poached-egg-plant
- To extend your home-and-garden lifestyle into autumn and beyond, consider sowing Pak choi seeds directly into your garden soil or regrowing them from kitchen scraps during June.
- For a second sowing round of Poached egg plant in June, sow the seeds directly into well-prepared soil, ensuring they have full to partial sunlight and good moisture. Harvest young leaves for best flavor and a refreshing addition to your lifestyle gardening.
