Edible Plants of the World

Chinese Kale, Chinese broccoli, White flowered broccoli

It does best in a fertile soil. The soil needs to be well drained. It prefers a pH of 6-7. Temperatures during the day of 18°-28°C are best. It can tolerate frost. It grows well in tropical regions but cool temperatures are necessary for flowering. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.

Also known as:

Berza, Fat-shan, Gai lan choi, Gai lan, Gailarn, Jie-lan,Kaai laan tsoi, Kailaan

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Chinese Kale grow?

Found in: Australia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Fiji, Hawaii, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Nauru, Pacific, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, United States

Notes: There are about 30 Brassica species and many cultivated varieties. It has 13.65 mg per 100 g dry weight and 7.3 mg fresh weight of alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Status: It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Growing Chinese Kale, Chinese broccoli, White flowered broccoli

Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. Seed can be sown direct or put in a nursery then transplanted. Seed are sown about 0.5 cm deep. Seeds germinate in 3-10 days. A spacing of 15 cm is suitable. Wide spacing causes stems to become thick and tough. Because plants are shallow rooted, they need regular watering.

Edible Uses: The flower stalk, flower heads, buds and tender leaves are all eaten. The stems are steamed or braised and often served with oyster sauce. They are also used in soups.

Production: It is fast growing. Flower heads are harvested after about 9 weeks. Heads are harvested individually to allow others to form. Harvesting is done before buds start to open. It is grown as an annual crop in winter months in southern China.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Flowers cooked 22 1.1 0.6 164 28.2 0.4 93.5
Leaves - - - 41 - -
Stems - - - - - -

References

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