How to Grow Gai Lan

Starting the Seeds

• In addition to using store-bought seedlings, you can grow your own Chinese broccoli seedlings. For an early spring crop, start the seeds indoors about seven to nine weeks before the last spring frost date. For a fall crop, start the seed indoors or direct sow them in mid-summer. Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch apart, and expect germination within four to five days. Then place them in a sunny window at a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Soil

• Chinese broccoli can thrive in well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Perform a soil test early in the planning process to determine the pH of your garden's soil. Make amendments according to the results -- till limestone into the top 7 inches of soil to raise the pH, or work in sulfur to lower it. Before transplanting or direct sowing, loosen the soil to a depth of 12 inches, and incorporate a 2-inch layer of compost to promote drainage and nutrients.

Transplanting

• When the seedlings have two to four true leaves, harden them off over a one-week period. Place them outside in a sheltered area for two hours a day, and gradually extend the duration that they're outside so they get used to the environment. Then transplant them in a sunny area that's sheltered from the wind, about 1 foot apart and 1 inch deeper than they were growing in their previous container. Space the rows 1 foot apart.

Care

• Chinese broccoli needs regular water so the soil remains moist. Provide at least 1 inch of water per week and adjust the amount during hot, dry periods and after rainfall. Three weeks after transplanting, side-dress each plant with a 5-10-10 fertilizer. Dig a 2-inch-deep trench in a 4-inch diameter around the stem of each plant. Then sprinkle a handful of the fertilizer in the trench, cover it with 1 inch of soil and water it in. When daytime temperatures are above 75 degrees Fahrenheit, spread a 2-inch layer of organic matter around the plants to combat weeds, promote soil-moisture retention and to keep the soil cool. The plants are harvest-ready just before the flowers open and turn yellow.