Brassica, Chinese Broccoli, Gai Lan Early Jade ~ 500 seeds

Sun Preference
Full-Sun
Bloom or Harvest Time
Spring, Fall
  $3.39

Description

Brassica oleracea, F-1 Hybrid

A great variety for containers!

Great tasting “superfood” Gai Lan is a cool season crop, ready to start harvesting in just 6 to 7 weeks. Its flavor is similar to fresh broccoli, but more mild and sweet and just delicious simply stirfried or quickly sautéed. Once you cut its thick, juicy stalks topped with edible buds and creamy blossoms, they will regrow for a second harvest. Besides flavor, Gai Lan is packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Grow your own; it’s hard to find in most markets!

Seed Starting Successfully

Start your garden from scratch with Gertens' wide variety of seed packets! Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, we have seeds for every skill level and garden size. From colorful flowers to delicious vegetables, our seeds are carefully selected for their quality and performance.

Seed Starting Successfully

Grow Your Best

When to Grow Veggies & Fruits

From Our Experts

Details

Plant In: Feb. – May, Aug. – Sept. 
Sun/Shade: Full sun 
Planting Depth: 1/2 inch
Space Seeds: 2 inches
Days to Germinate: 7 - 10 days
Days to Harvest: 55 – 60 days

START SEEDS DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN
In very early spring as soon as ground can be worked, prepare a well-drained, fertile garden bed in full sun. Sow seeds 2 inches apart in rows 6 to 8 inches apart. Cover 1/2 inch deep and keep soil evenly moist to ensure good germination. When seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall, thin to stand 4 to 6 inches apart.

GROWING NOTES
Sow Gai Lan in cool early spring weather, about the same time as you plant turnips and radishes. Consistent moisture, early thinning and an adequate supply of nitrogen will encourage the quick growth needed to produce thick, juicy stalks of leaves and flower buds. Use non-toxic Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) products to control caterpillar pests as necessary. Make several sowings a week apart for a continuous harvest. Sow again in late summer for a fall crop.

HARVEST AND USE
Harvest both leaves and flowering stalks at 7 to 8 inches tall, when stalks are still tender. After cutting, water plants and feed with fish emulsion solution to get a second harvest in a few weeks.

Enjoy the broccoli-like flavor of vitamin-rich Gai Lan by quickly stirfrying with ginger and garlic. Oyster or black bean sauce and a spritz of toasted sesame oil and hot sauce are other tasty additions.

More Information

Mature Height (Range) 7-12"
Spacing in Row 2", thin to 6 - 8" apart
Days to Germination 7-10 days
Planting Depth 1/2"
Days to Maturity 55-60 days
Seed Packet Type Vegetables
Plant Life Cycle Annual
Bloom or Harvest Time Spring, Fall
Sun Preference Full-Sun
Common Family Name Broccoli
Brand Renee's Garden

Product Questions (12)

Starting times will vary depending on the vegetable you are growing. Each seed packet will have specific sowing instructions for that type of vegetable. Some plants, such as tomatoes and peppers, should be started indoors, 6-8 weeks before the last frost...
The process of bringing seeds outside is called hardening off. Hardening off is generally done sometime after the seedling has two full sets of normal leaves. In Minnesota, you want to begin hardening off seedlings in late April/early May.  To ...
If you have a southern facing window with all day sun, you may grow seedlings in a windowsill. Be sure to rotate the seedlings frequently to ensure the plants do not lean heavily towards the sun. For more even results, use a grow light, positioned roughly...
We recommend using either high intensity T5 fluorescent bulbs, or LED grow lights. Both setups will produce excellent results. T5s are the typical grow light, are economical and come in frequencies that are helpful for plant development. LED technology...
Grow lights should be kept roughly 4-5” above the top of seedling leaves. If you are using very powerful LEDs, you could even keep them 8-10” away.
Grow lights should be used to mimic a natural sunlight cycle for plants. We recommend using them 12 hours a day, from roughly 7am to 7pm.  
A variety of seedling trays exist for seed starting. If you are starting smaller seeds, a simple peat cell tray works great. However, the larger the seed, the larger the initial pot should be. If you are starting larger seeds indoors such as: sunflowers...
Do not start any type of fertilizer regime for young seedlings until they have at least two full sets of regular leaves. Start with a root stimulator, then after a month you may move on to a gentle, weak (half strength) water-based fertilizer. Remember...
Let the roots tell you when to transplant. When you begin to see the seedling’s root growing out of the bottom of their current pot, it is time to transplant up to something larger. We recommend using a 4” nursery pot to transplant most seedlings. In...
Gertens carries a wide variety of both spring and autumn planted bulbs. Spring planted bulbs, such as gladioli and dahlias, are best started indoors in early April, and planted outside once the soil temperatures are above 55 F. Autumn planted bulbs, ...
The big three tips are: 1) Staking and training 2) Feeding and watering and 3) Harvesting and enjoying. 1) Keeping plants trained and staked allows air circulation around crops and provides much-needed support for produce as it grows...
Gertens does carry an assortment of both perennials, as well as annual and perennial wildflower mixes. It is important to remember when growing perennials, that you will not get any flowers the first year of growth. It often takes a perennial 2-3 years...
loader
Loading...