ana,
You can't fool us, the only reason you are yanking those chinese cabbages out is because you can't remember where you put your chop sticks.

Lou

They should not be bolting and it doesn't sound like your are doing anything wrong. It could be a small variety that has reached its mature size(?) I have several different varieties and only one plant bolted because I didn't harvest it in time. I grow them thru the end of March and they usually do well. I'd keep them and see what happens if I were you.

I will take a picture of them tomorrow! I checked my garden journal and I planted them on Oct 30th. Since it's about a time for them to form head, I was checking their centers and found out that one of them is going to bolt.
Lou, no kidding! If I knew I should eat leaves I would do it! But I remember seeing nice cabbage heads on their seed's pack.

Ana

Last time I planted different chinese cabbages, some of them form heads others not depending on the variety. For me they produced too much and I had to find people to gave away, also I picked them while they were young.

Here are some of the varieties that I planted.

Silvia

Silvia, I don't know when to harvest my cabbage!

This is how mine are looking today! Maybe it's just a leafy type of cabbage.

Thanks,
ana

Ana, it is time to eat the cabbage, if you scroll down the pictures, some of them look just like yours. Some are mix with mustard, I think is one called senposai and I am sure there are others with open leaves. Make them in a stir fry, soup or anything that you like.

Silvia

Here is a link that might be useful: chinese cabbage

Ana, those are beautiful! Yumm! Just the perfect size for 'taco' shells or rolls. Is that senposai? If so, I can't wait for ours to grow up; though we eat cabbage too fast for the leafs to get very big.

I like to make Fish Tacos. Take a piece of white fish like Tilapia, bread it and pan grill in just a bit of peanut oil. While the fish is marinating and cooking; prepare the relish; like a pico de gallo but I add into it anything from the garden that can add some zing; such as baby mustard, arugula, as well any small eggplant, and you could add root veggies; along with tomato, pepper and onion. Add a dash of olive oil and a dash of sea salt and mix thoroughly.

I'm thinking to plant some of those rat-tail radish; I bet they would add some zing to our relish!

When the fish is done; chunk it up.

To serve; use your cabbage leaf as the taco shell; spoon in fish chunks and relish. Eat and enjoy!

We make rolls also; start with the cabbage or collard leaf; add thin sliced soft cheese then add a layer of relish; roll it up and enjoy.

~dianne

That looks great Dianne, what a good idea!

Silvia

Time to eat? So I should eat leaves!! I was waiting for some heads to form.....
I bought it from cherrygal seeds and it didn't say what type. It called Asian chinese cabbage.

thanks,
ana

I fried the cabbage and was surprises that it came up very chewy, not like any other veggies I fry. I definitely need time to get used to that taste! I was expecting something tender.

ana, to me it looks like they are planted too close together and that makes them get tall and leggy because they are competing for space and sunshine. I plant mine about 16-18 inches apart. It looks like too much space when they first come up but they will fill in the blank spots.

They are a cool weather crop so maybe you should try again. I just planted 6 seeds about two weeks ago and they all came up so I transplanted 3. They don't seem to mind being moved and all 6 are doing good now.

Sumala, I agree I planted them too close. I didn't think they would be that big! Next winter I will try again, although it seems like I prefer regular cabbage taste better. I will give it a try.

ana

Why wait so long? For me, this is the best time for planting them. I plant them in small groups until they give up.

I grow regular cabbage too and love their robust flavor but for stir frys and salads, I like the Oriental stuff. Especially when using them with seafood because their flavor is not over powering.

A really cool thing about them is you can peel off the outer leaves and use them but the plant will keep growing. I do have a michili that was planted about October and is still going strong after I have picked about 20 leaves from it.

Does your michili looks like my cabbage? I was thinking it's that type.... I have just planted a few more Chinese cabbages.

You guys gotta quit coming up with stuff I want to plant! I am running out of room. ana you cabbages look lovely! Great, tasty looking photos.

Dianne, you made me realize what the big TO-DO is with veggie wraps. I thought the were for wimps, but your photo and description is YUMMY!! I gotta try. I am a big meat n taters kinda gal but I do love new ways to eat veggies. I always loved most veggies raw, for instance, I never met a cooked carrot that I could eat! i love their flavor in soups and stews, but I don't eat em cooked. Raw? I'll eat a colander full! Now cabbages, I love steamed, in stir fry, as garnish, in salad, golumpki's(cabbage rolls). Here's a good recipe for cabbage n noodles. Steamed cabbage, crisp-tender, egg noodles, in a skillet together add salt n peppa' melted butter (SORRY I LOVE BUTTER TOO) It's ok to let edges of noodles and cabbage brown slightly in butter....before serving, stir in a couple spoons of cottage cheese, let melt a bit...sprinkle with paprika...YUM is great with roasted pork or chops.

Sounds good! I will try your recipe cindeea!

If they're bolting - it means it's the end of their season where you live (in terms of temps and seasonal light - etc.). They are just putting out seeds for the next generation and fixing to call it a day. Nothing that you did wrong. Even up here in NE Florida - true winter crops (including some herbs that I grow and things like collards) are pretty much done and gone by February. Can't fight mother nature. Robyn

I understand it's the end of the season. I think that way: I planted them in time, they grew very well, but none of them formed a head. The more of them I pull out, the more I see that they all would bolt rather than forming heads.
I am thinking now, it's more of the cabbage type or weather frequent changes issue.

Thanks,
ana