How Do You Grow Kai Lan?
January 2, 2023
Kai Lan is a popular Chinese vegetable known for its bright green, finely-cut broad leaves. It is most commonly used as an add-on to other dishes, but it can also be eaten on its own. If you are looking to grow Kai Lan, read on for more information and tips.
What is Kai Lan?
Kai lan is a long, slender Asian vegetable that is grown primarily for its leaves. The leaves are extremely thin and delicate, and when picked, they have a bright, crisp flavor that’s often compared to a mix of asparagus and lettuce. They are a favorite vegetable in Asian cuisines, where they are most often used in stir-fries. Kai lan is a herbaceous perennial vegetable that is best grown in warmer regions. It is planted in the springtime and harvested in the fall.
Kai Lan comes in a few varieties: white, purple, green, and red. White Kai Lan has the thinnest and most delicate leaves, while red Kai Lan has thicker, darker leaves that are slightly sweeter in flavor. Purple kai lan has stems that are a light purple color.
How to grow Kai Lan
Kai Lan is an herbaceous perennial vegetable that is best grown in warmer regions. It is planted in the springtime and harvested in the fall. The plant is grown in a container and should be given 6 feet of width and 3 feet of depth. It can be grown indoors or outdoors depending on your climate. Indoors, it grows well in pots with good drainage and indirect sunlight. Indoors, it should be placed near a window where it receives a little bit of sunlight. Outdoors, can be planted in a container and allowed to climb up the sides of the container. It prefers full sun, but partial shade is fine too. It can be grown in any type of soil, but it grows best in sandy soils. Cover the soil with a layer of gravel to minimize evaporation.
Harvesting tips for Kai Lan
- It is harvested when the stem begins to yellow. When harvesting the leaves, cut them from the stem when they are about 3 inches long.- Being a member of the asparagus family, it does not store well. Once it has been harvested, the best that can be done is to use it up.- Kai Lan has a long growing season, and it can be grown throughout the year in warmer regions. - It prefers full sun, but partial shade is fine too.- It can be grown in any type of soil, but it grows best in sandy soils.- The plant is grown in a container and should be given 6 feet of width and 3 feet of depth.
