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Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra
Also called Cabbage, Wild Cabbage, Kale, Chou Mollier, Haria, Kohlrabi, Marrow Stem Kale
Gai lan is a leafy Brassica grown for its thick, tender stems, glossy blue-green leaves and small broccoli-like florets, mostly eaten as a vegetable. It is a cool-season crop that grows best in mild weather and should be harvested before it flowers, as stems turn woody once it bolts.
Gai lan, kai-lan, Chinese broccoli, or Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra) is a leafy vegetable with thick, flat, glossy blue-green leaves with thick stems, and florets similar to (but much smaller than) broccoli. A Brassica oleracea cultivar, gai lan is in the group alboglabra (from Latin albus "white" and glabrus "hairless"). When gone to flower, its white blossoms resemble that of its cousin Matthiola incana or hoary stock. The flavor is very similar to that of broccoli, but noticeably stronger and slightly more bitter.
Gai lan is a cool season crop that grows best between 18 and 28 °C (64 and 82 °F). It withstands hotter summer temperatures better than other brassicas such as broccoli or cabbage. Gai lan is harvested around 60–70 days after sowing, just before the flowers start to bloom. The stems can become woody and tough when the plant bolts. It is generally harvested for market when 15–20 cm (6–8 in) tall; however, it can also be produced as "baby gai lan." The "baby" version is cultivated through crowding of seedlings and generous fertilization; they resemble Brussels sprouts although they have looser folds.
Abyssinian mustard · Mustard · Zha cai · India mustard · Rutabaga · Rapeseed · Tatsoi · Rhamphospermum nigrum · Cauliflower · Cabbage · Brussels sprout · Kohlrabi
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Gai lan by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
