How to Grow Wombok in New Zealand

Chinese or napa cabbage with tight pale barrel-shaped heads, essential for kimchi, stir-fries and slaws. It bolts in warm weather, so sow from autumn into early spring in the north and cover against white butterfly.

When to plant wombok in New Zealand

Timing is everything in New Zealand, where the warm north and the cooler south are weeks apart. Sow or plant in these months for your region:

Region	When to sow or plant
Northland	February, March, April, August, September, October
Auckland	February, March, April, August, September, October
Waikato & BoP	February, March, April, August, September, October
Wellington	February, March, April, August, September, October
Nelson & Marlborough	February, March, April, August, September, October
Canterbury	February, March, April, August, September, October
Otago & Southland	February, March, April, August, September, October
Central Otago	February, March, April, August, September, October

Best wombok varieties for NZ

Wombok (Wong Bok) — Tall barrel-shaped Chinese cabbage with pale, tightly packed leaves. (Yates NZ, Kings Seeds)
Chinese Mini Gold F1 — Compact mini wombok with a sweet golden interior, good for small gardens. (Kings Seeds)

How to grow wombok

Space plants about 45cm apart.
Sow seed around 0.5cm deep.
Position: full sun.
Ready to harvest in roughly 75 days.
Seeds germinate in about 8 days.

Companion planting

Grow wombok near: Onion, Dill, Beetroot.

Pests and problems

Watch for: White butterfly, Slugs, Aphids. See our NZ pest and disease guide for organic control.

For a calendar tuned to your exact region, see the New Zealand planting guides or the Wombok plant page.

FAQ

When is the best time to plant wombok in New Zealand?

In the warm north (Auckland, Northland) sow in February, March, April, August, September, October. Cooler regions plant a little later. Check the table above for your region.

Where can I buy wombok seeds or plants in NZ?

Try Yates NZ, Kings Seeds.