Brassica olearacea
Alboglabra Group
Common Name: Chinese Broccoli

Gai lum is used widely in Chinese cooking and can be boiled, steamed or stir fried. It is a good source of dietary fiber, folic acid and potassium, and has a high vitamin C content. Few varieties are grown, the main one being a Japanese cultivar, 'Kailaan'. It is similar in appearance to choy sum, although the leaves are rounder and the stalks, or petioles, are round and slender. The flowers are white. It is harvested just as the first flowers begin to open.

Cultivation

This leafy vegetable needs well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Dig in manure or compost four to six weeks prior to sowing seed. Apply a dressing of lime or dolomite to the soil before sowing unless the soil is known to be alkaline. Space plants about 20 cm (8 in) apart. Give regular water to keep the crop growing quickly and ensure that the area is kept weed free. The first harvesting should be about seven to eight weeks after sowing.

Climate

Zone 8, but grown in all climates as a summer annual.