Growing Gai Lan

A delicious and versatile brassica, growing Chinese broccoli is a fast and easy option. With a grow time of just 4-7 weeks, you'll be harvesting in no time!

What is the best way to grow gai lan?

It is also super easy to grow under all kinds of climate condition die lank and tolerant to

Does Kai Lan need full sun?

Kailan (Brassica oleracea) Belonging to the Alboglabra group, this plant grows best in well-draining soil. It requires full sun and moderate watering and can be propagated by seeds.

Is Chinese broccoli cut and come again?

A fantastic cut-and-come-again crop, seeds can be succession planted every few weeks for a continual harvest all season. It is also possible to sow indoors in trays and transplant out once plants are three inches tall, with two sets of true leaves.

Is gai lan hard to grow?

Gai lan is commonly known as Chinese broccoli due to its origin in east Asian cuisine, but it is easy to grow and well suited for all vegetable gardens.

Is gai lan a perennial?

Gai Lan, also known as “Chinese broccoli”, is a member of the Brassica family. This perennial leafy green has a thick, white stalk that separates into smaller branches halfway up the shoot.

How to grow gai lan at home?

Gai lan is usually started from seed sown directly in the garden in fall or late winter.

1. Add a 2-inch layer of compost and 2 cups of 10-10-10 fertilizer to every 50 square feet of garden bed.
2. Plant the gai lan seed on the soil surface, spacing the seeds 4 inches apart in rows set 24 inches apart.

Can you eat the stem of gai lan?

Gai lan has thick stems and dark green leaves, both of which are edible. Add to Asian-style dishes or blanch it for a nutritious side.

Is gai lan better than broccoli?

The Chinese broccoli nutritional content is similar to other members of Brassica oleracea, like broccoli and kale. It doesn't have as much protein or fiber, but gai lan has more folate. Overall, if you're looking to add more variety to your diet, gai lan is a great choice.

What size container for Chinese broccoli?

You can also start Chinese broccoli seedlings in pots inside if you want to get the growing started before the spring weather warms up. Use a good quality seed raising mix and plant two seeds per six-inch pot or in individual seed raising pots.

How many Chinese broccoli plants per person?

Broccoli. Grow 2 to 4 plants per person. Yield 4 to 6 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart.

How big can kai-lan grow?

There are actually two varieties of gai lan plants available, one with white flowers and another with yellow flowers. Among these two varieties, the white flower variety is much popular and generally grows up to 19 inches high. While the yellow flower variety only grows to about 8 inches tall.

Is it OK to eat broccoli that has flowered?

The tender stems, leaves, buds, and flowers of the broccoli plant are all edible. Your bright yellow broccoli flowers are not only edible, but some people find them to be quite tasty as well, and they are sold at some high-scale markets as a delicacy.

What happens if you wait too long to harvest broccoli?

If you wait too long to harvest your broccoli plant, it will to bolt, or go to seed. This is when the tight green buds bloom and produce yellow flowers. Once the flowers open, your broccoli is no longer edible. If you let your broccoli go to seed, collect the seeds for next year.

What happens if you let broccoli flower?

If you find a broccoli flowering in your garden you may wonder whether it's still edible. It is, although bolted vegetables often become more bitter tasting. Ideally, aim to cut your broccoli heads at the tight bud stage, when the head is firm. If you spot a plant beginning to bolt, harvest the head immediately.

Is gai lan poisonous?

Can You Eat Gai Lan Flowers? Absolutely! The flowers are perfectly edible. It is worth noting however that many vegetables in the cabbage family can become quite bitter after flowering, so you might want to avoid plants that have produced a lot of flowers and/or tall flower stalks.

Can you eat gai lan raw?

Can you eat gai lan raw? You can, but it's commonly eaten cooked. Just like broccoli, raw gai lan is a personal preference. And just like broccoli, gai lan is best cooked lightly so it is tender crisp.

Is Broccolini same as gai lan?

Broccolini is a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli (also called gai lan or Chinese kale). It looks a lot like Chinese broccoli—the stalks are long and lean—but instead of big leaves, it has florets more like common broccoli.

What is the easiest broccoli to grow?

Our Favorite Broccoli Cultivars for Home Growers

• Belstar.
• Calabrese.
• Destiny.
• DiCicco.
• Eastern Magic.
• Green Magic.
• Purple Sprouting.
• Romanesco.

What is the shelf life of gai lan?

Fresh leaves and stems will keep 4-7 days when stored unwashed, in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Gai Lan can also be blanched and stored in the freezer for up to one year.