Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) in Zone 4a & 4b

Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra

When to plant gai lan (chinese broccoli) in zone 4b

Zones 4a and 4b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.

Start indoors	Not typically started indoors
Direct sow / transplant outside	May 1–May 8
Estimated harvest	Jun 15–Jun 22 (~45 days after direct-sowing)

Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.

Gai lan, also called Chinese broccoli or kailaan, is grown for its thick, tender flowering stalks rather than a dense broccoli head, with a milder, slightly sweeter flavor than standard broccoli.

How gai lan (chinese broccoli) fits zone 4's season

Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) needs about 45 days from sowing to first harvest.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli).

Where to buy gai lan seeds

See why we recommend these suppliers →

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.