Seeds - Gai Lan, Blue Star OG (SGH)
$4.79
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Description: Gai Lan is used extensively in Asian cuisine including Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Burmese. The delicious tender stems and flowering tops have a broccoli-like flavour that is perfect for stirfrying or wilting. The plants themselves are compact and grow well in the garden or larger containers, and Gai Lan is much easier to grow that full-heading European broccoli.
Pack Size: 75 seeds
Days to Maturity: 45 - 60
Latin Name: Brassica oleracea
Alternative Names: Chinese Broccoli
Main Uses: Leafy green, Asian vegetable
Zone Hardiness: Annual
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Height: 30 cm (12 in.)
Certified Organic: USDA Certified Organic
Germination: 3 - 7 days.
Sowing Indoors: Start seeds 4 weeks before your local last frost date
Planting Depth: Approximately 1/4" deep.
Spacing: Plant 10 - 12 seeds per foot, with 2" between seedlings and rows 18 - 24" apart.
Planting Out: Direct seeding is easy in late May, early June and again in mid-summer for a fall crop. Young seedlings can tolerate some light frost but avoid heavy frosts.
Growing Tips: Use floating row cover to protect against flea beetles. Cover at time of sowing.
Growing in Containers: Gai Lan can be grown in large pots.
Fertilizing (Containers): Use a composty soil and apply an organic all-purpose or fish-based fertilizer every two weeks.
Watering (Containers): Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Check every day or two during very hot weather.
Growing in Mixed Planters: Gai Lan does best on its own, or as part of a grouping of summer leafy greens.
Fertilizing (Garden): Add quality compost to your garden bed before planting.
Watering (Garden): Water young plants daily to get them established, then water only as required.
Pruning: Harvest young plants with sharp scissors.
Harvesting: Harvest as a young green to thin crop, then allow some plants to mature to just before flowering. Leaves, shoots and flowers are all edible and tasty!
Pest/Disease Issues: Flea Beetles are a common pest on all brassica-type plants. Floating row covers are the most assured method of preventing Flea Beetle damage.
Suitability for Indoors: Well-suited as an indoor sprouting green and can also be grown to mature size under lights using deeper pots.
What about Grow Lights? Fluorescent grow lights are useful if growing Gai Lan indoors during the winter months.
Indoor Container Suggestions: Gai Lan can be grown indoors in 2-gallon pots, provided good drainage holes.
Winter Fertilizing: Grow in a potting soil amended with 25% quality compost. No additional fertilizing required.
Winter Watering: Water as soil feels dry to the touch. Check on plants every 1 - 2 days.
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