Chinese cabbage (napa): when to sow, plant out and harvest

Also called: Napa cabbage.

Sowing, planting and harvest dates for your climate, good and bad companions, growing tips.

When to sow in your region

Average dates, computed from the frost dates of each climate. For your exact dates, choose your town.

ClimateSow outdoorsHarvest
Northern France1 June – 31 August; 14 July – 31 August1 September – 30 November
Atlantic coast22 May – 21 August; 18 July – 4 September5 September – 4 December
Eastern France24 May – 23 August; 12 July – 29 August30 August – 28 November
Mediterranean20 April – 19 May; 16 July – 20 July; 3 August – 20 September21 September – 20 December
Mountains (around 1,000 m)26 June – 25 September; 12 June – 30 July31 July – 29 October

Growing

Family
Brassicaceae
Latin name
Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis
Between rows
40–50 cm
In the row
30–35 cm
To harvest
50–60 days

Companion planting

The level of evidence is shown for each pairing: many rest on tradition rather than on studies.

Good neighbours

Keep apart

No documented pairing.

Sources