The Chinese cole crops are affected by the same pests and diseases that affect other cabbage relatives. These include the imported cabbageworm, cabbage loopers, Harlequin bugs, cabbage maggots, aphids and flea beetles. Common disease problems include black rot, wire stem, downy mildew and Alternaria leaf spot. Grubs, nematodes and sometimes wireworms may damage Chinese radishes. The leaves are slightly wrinkled and thinner than leaves of regular cabbage with wide, crisp midribs.
Chinese cabbage is best sown in late summer and autumn rather than spring.
If seed is sown in spring young plants may bolt if they are frosted or exposed to a long period of cold nights. Sow the seed thinly in the row, and thin the plants to 12 inches apart for michili types, and 18 inches apart for napa types. Michili has an elongated semi-heading shape that resembles romaine lettuce and light green leaves with a broad white midrib. China Pride is a napa type that forms a 5 pound head. It is tolerant of downy mildew, bacterial soft rot and tip burn.