leafy · direct sow
Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli): how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating gai lan (chinese broccoli) a few times a week needs about 74 plants in ~93 sq ft, worth about $89 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail — an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 19 | ~24 sq ft | ~35 | ~$23 |
| 2 people | 37 | ~47 sq ft | ~68 | ~$44 |
| 4 people | 74 | ~93 sq ft | ~136 | ~$89 |
| 6 people | 110 | ~138 sq ft | ~202 | ~$132 |
Spacing
10" in row · 18" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
65 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Mar 28 – Apr 27 | Jun 17 – Jul 27 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 23 – Apr 22 | Jun 27 – Aug 6 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 13 – Apr 12 | Jul 7 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 3 – Apr 2 | Jul 17 – Aug 26 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 16 – Mar 18 | Jul 27 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 5 – Mar 7 | Aug 17 – Sep 26 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 3 – Feb 2 | Sep 6 – Oct 16 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 1 – Jan 13 | Sep 16 – Oct 26 |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 0.3 lbs per plant over ~3 productive weeks (~0.3 lb). Re-sow every ~14 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Cabbage worms & loopers · Aphids · Flea beetles — the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with garlic, onion-bulb, carrot, beet. Keep away from tomato-slicing, tomato-cherry, tomato-paste.
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code — not just your zone — in about 60 seconds.