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 | Dec 14 – Jan 13 | Sep 16 – Oct 26 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Stems pencil-thick with tight flower buds just formed. Cut low; side shoots regrow.
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 · Black rot · Cabbage root maggot, 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, carrot, beet. Keep away from tomato, tomato, tomato.
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.
Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) planting questions
How many gai lan (chinese broccoli) plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 19 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 74 plants, which takes around 93 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does gai lan (chinese broccoli) need?+
Space plants 10" apart in the row with 18" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant gai lan (chinese broccoli)?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing gai lan (chinese broccoli) worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~0.3 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $89 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.