Beka Santoh Chinese Cabbage Seeds – Loose-Head Napa, Japanese Home Cooking Favorite, 30–45 Days

Beka Santoh Chinese Cabbage – Brassica rapa var. pekinensis

Beka Santoh is a fast-growing, loose-head Chinese cabbage beloved in Japanese home cooking — known for its light green, frilled, slightly serrated leaves with crisp white petioles and an unusually sweet, mild flavor that persists even after bolting. Unlike most cabbage varieties that turn bitter when they send up a flowering stalk, Beka Santoh remains tender and sweet, and its yellow flower buds and florets are a delicious bonus harvest.

Outer leaves can be harvested in as little as 30 days; full heads form slightly later. It plays an essential role in Chinese stir-fries, Korean kimchi (baechu), Japanese soups and sukiyaki, pickling, and fresh salads. One of the most versatile cool-season greens you can grow.

Seed Details

• Type: Loose-Head Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa var. pekinensis)
• Days to Maturity: 30–45 days
• Germination: 5–10 days at 50–85°F; 90% germination rate
• Leaf: Light green, frilled, slightly serrated with white petioles
• Flavor: Mild, delicate, sweet — remains sweet even when bolting
• Planting Season: Spring/summer (after last frost) or late summer/early fall; year-round in tropical areas
• Best Use: Stir-fries, kimchi, soups, sukiyaki, pickling, salads, microgreens

Growing Instructions

• Sow seeds ¼–½" deep in fertile, well-drained soil.
• Germination soil temperature: 50–85°F.
• Thin or space plants 10–12" apart, rows 18–30" apart.
• Keep soil moist and fertilize regularly.
• Prefers cool temperatures; avoid prolonged exposure below 50°F to prevent premature bolting.

Harvesting

• Harvest outer leaves starting at 30 days for ongoing production.
• Allow full heads to form by 40–45 days.
• When the plant bolts, harvest the sweet flower buds and florets — delicious raw or lightly cooked.

Seed Saving

Allow seed heads to dry fully on the plant; remove, break open, and collect seeds. Clean and store in cool, dry conditions.

Select your desired seed quantity above.