Squeals Dances Smiles Does a cartwheel. Just kidding, I could never do a cartwheel. In the playground all the pretty little girls were always flipping around while I was playing basketball or trying to talk people into playing BINGO with me. But I am squealing, dancing and smiling…. it’s time to start picking vegetables in the garden! This makes me one happy girl!

Right now we’re getting hammered with Lettuce and Bok Choy picking in the garden. For a girl who used to dislike lettuce, I am sure eating it by the handful now.. but that’s another post! This one is all about one of my favorite greens, Bok Choy! Last year we grew some over the Winter in the green house and it worked pretty well but this Spring was the first time we grew them normal like our other plants. The results are astounding… we already have a contestant in the happiest plant of 2014 category!

For stats, the seeds were planted January 29 and transplanted outside on April 1st. These plants are growing MASSIVE! I really can’t say enough great things about their growth. They are wide, bushy and they just keep growing. So let’s pick some of the first harvest of the season… are you excited?

Seedling Planting Spring 2014_11 - 1

Remember when the bok choy were just baby seedlings? Oh those were the days…

Garden May 11 2014_13 - 2 Garden May 11 2014_13 - 3

Then they started growing…

First Bok Choy Harvest 2014 - 4 First Bok Choy Harvest 2014 - 5

Then suddenly they were full force ahead adult bok choy mode!

First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_1 - 6 First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_1 - 7

You guys just grew up so quick! It feels like just yesterday I was planting your little seeds.

First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_3 - 8 First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_3 - 9

You used to be small and weak and scared of the wind… and now you’re so strong you can live through tough storms!

First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_2 - 10 First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_2 - 11

From seed to these massive beauties. A bok choy selfie is needed!

First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_5 - 12 First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_5 - 13

But now it’s time to pick the bok choy for dinner! I’m totally making this noodle dish ! Did you know that if you don’t pick the entire plant but instead just cut off the outside leaves the plant will keep growing? I know, it’s amazing. That means that you can grow a plant, cut, then keep on growing! I would highly suggest this method as you’re going to get double the yield. To do this just cut about 2 inches from the base on the outside leaves. This is a great video that shows you how to cut it too.

First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_6 - 14 First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_6 - 15

And go all the way around the plant to cut all the leaves..

First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_7 - 16 First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_7 - 17

We tend to leave a few leaves inside so the plant won’t freak out but instead will keep growing. This is how we left the plant after cutting.

Bok Choy Regrowing - 18 Bok Choy Regrowing - 19

In just 1 week the plant already looks like this again. Do you see all the new growth around the base and the outside leaves?

First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_8 - 20 First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_8 - 21

And then once all your bok choy is cut, start thinking about recipes!

First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_9 - 22 First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_9 - 23

And continue to be in love with how green and beautiful it is! Goodness I am in love with you bok choy.

First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_4 - 24 First Bok Choy Harvest 2014_4 - 25

Good job baby bok choy. Mama and Papa love you.

Thanks for harvesting with me!

Have you grown bok choy before? Do you treat your plants like babies too?