Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan)

Brassicaceae

FASTEST brassica: 30-50 days from direct sow. Non-heading — grown for thick, tender flowering stalks, broad leaves, and edible flower buds. CUT-AND-COME-AGAIN: side shoots continue after main stalk harvest. Entire above-ground plant edible including flowers. Most temperature-flexible brassica (50-75°F optimal). Succession plant every 2-3 weeks. A few open flowers are fine (unlike standard broccoli). Excellent in spring, fall, and winter (zones 9-10).

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

30–50 days

Sun

6+ hours

Container

Yes

2+ gallon pot

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 5–10 days

Optimal Temp 75°F

Seed Depth 0.25"

Watering

Weekly Water 1–1.5 "

Needs Moderate

Soil

pH Range 6–7

Resilience

Heat: Low Cold: Medium

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Moderate feeder

Harvest

Pencil-thick stalk, buds formed but before flowers open. A few open flowers OK.

Storage 5 days

Sources

horticultural Gardener's Path — Chinese Broccoli seed-catalog West Coast Seeds — Gai Lan seed-catalog Renee's Garden — Early Jade university RHS (UK) seed-catalog West Coast Seeds — Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) seed-catalog Renee's Garden — Chinese Broccoli variety info horticultural Gardener's Path — How to Grow Chinese Broccoli

More Vegetables

Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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