Wombok — Grow Guide — Holly's Homestead

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Sun

Full sun

Water

Consistent

Soil pH

6.0–7.0

Spacing

30–40cm

Depth

0.5–1cm

01Grown for a tight, upright head

Unlike the loose rosettes of bok choy, wombok forms a dense, elongated head. Some growers loosely tie the outer leaves together partway through to help it head up tightly.

02Planting

Method

Direct sow or transplant seedlings.

Soil

Rich, moisture-retentive.

Timing

Sow in the cooler months — wombok is far less heat-tolerant than bok choy or choy sum.

Planting timing varies significantly by Australian climate zone. Set your zone above (or use the Find My Climate Zone tool) for guidance tailored to your own area.

03Growing care

Feed fortnightly with a liquid fertiliser once seedlings reach 15cm tall.
Keep soil consistently moist to grow quickly without turning bitter.
Net against cabbage moth if pressure is high.
Sow in the cooler months only — wombok bolts fast in heat.

04Problems

Bolting — heat stress; grow in cooler months.
Cabbage moth — net or hand-pick.
Slugs and snails — target young leaves; use barriers.
Tip burn — irregular watering; keep moisture even.

05Harvest & storage

Signs

Head feels firm and tight all the way through when gently squeezed.

Method

Cut the whole head at the base — wombok isn't typically picked leaf by leaf.

Curing

None needed.

Storage

Fridge crisper, up to 2 weeks — a tight head keeps noticeably longer than loose leafy greens.

Preserving

See Fermenting (sauerkraut and fermented brassicas) or Freezing Produce (blanching and freezing a glut) for ways to keep a harvest surplus.

06Companions & rotation

Plant nearby

OnionHerbs

Avoid nearby

StrawberryTomato

Rotation note

Rotate brassicas on a 3–4 year cycle.