How to Grow Chinese Broccoli
Instruction & Advice for Growing Chinese Broccoli
in Your Vegetable Garden
| Nutrition | Watering Instructions | Harvesting |
| Climate | Fertilizing Instructions | Storage |
| Soil | Challenges | Tips |
| Planting |
This vegetable is also known as gai lun and the stem is used primarily in Asian cooking. Chinese Broccoli is a tall, stout, leafy plant.
Nutrition Information: (back to top)
Chinese broccoli contains: Vitamin K, C, A, E, B6, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Dietary Fiber, Calcium, Thiamin, Magnesium, Ribovlavin, Potassium and Manganese.
Climate & Growing Conditions: (back to top)
This vegetable can grow in nearly all climate zones. Once past the seedling phase, it can even survive a late frost.
Chinese Broccoli will grow best in a sunny, fertile, well-drained garden bed. It's not particularly strong, so it is advisable to provide support to protect it from windstorms.
How to Prepare the Garden Soil: (back to top)
For best growing conditions, prepare the garden soil ahead of time with organic material (compost and manure). If the soil is sandy, you will need to add a nitrogen fertilizer.
For plants in windy areas of your garden, firm soil around roots to help strengthen and protect them.
This plant matures quickly, in approximately 14 weeks. Additional shoots appear and provide later harvests, after the main shoot is cut.
How to Plant: (back to top)
Sow chinese broccoli in your garden from late spring through autumn. Plantings in midsummer will most likely give you the best yields.
If you plan to harvest the chinese broccoli while it's young and very tender, plant by scattering the seed directly into the garden bed or a large container. It's a good gardening practice to thin to 6” apart after they sprout.
If you're planning to harvest after letting the plants reach maturity - thin the plants to 1 foot apart
How to Water: (back to top)
Chinese Broccoli will grow quickly, and needs the garden soil to be kept moist. Water frequently.
How to Fertilize: (back to top)
This vegetable enjoys a garden bed prepared with poultry manure and complete fertilizers.
During the growing season, you can apply weekly doses of liquid seaweed.
Gardening Challenges:(back to top)
Aphids, fruit flies, and cutworms. If you're in a hot, humid climate, powdery mildew may be a problem. Also, wilting (a soil-bourne disease) may affect chinese broccoli.
Gardening Advice Tip: Practice good vegetable gardening by rotating your crops within your garden space with each new season. This will prevent many plant diseases.
How to Harvest Information: (back to top)
Cut the shoots or stems when approximately 6” long and before the flowers open. Harvest often in hot weather to prevent the plant from going to seed, and to keep the shoots from getting tough.
You can harvest at any time throughout the growing season.
Storage: How to freeze Chinese Broccoli (back to top)
Remove any coarse leaves and thick stems. Wash and blanch the vegetable in boiling water for 2 minutes. Chill in iced water for 2 minutes. Drain and spread on a tray in a single layer for 30 minutes. Pack in freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Gardening Advice Tips (back to top)
Have a helpful gardening tip (or even a fun story) to share about your chinese broccoli growing experience? Share it with us at: gardeningtips@howtogardenadvice.com
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