Vegetables Seed by The Seeds Master
VL22 Chinese Kale, Kailan
Also known as Chinese broccoli, it’s a uniform variety with large blue green waxy leaves. It’s firm, crunchy stem and soft leaves has an excellent eating quality and is a staple in Asian cuisine, coming in different ways of cooking including blanched, steamed, stir-fried etc. Rich in vit. A,C, K and iron. Perfect for pots, container, indoors or outdoors. Matures in about 45-55 days. Can be grown as baby-leaf or cut and come again vegetable without waiting for its full maturity.
Growing: tropical climate - best during cooler rainy season; in temperate climates direct sow every few weeks starting after the last frost date. Seeds will germinate in 7-10 days. Optimal temperature for germination: 10-30°C (50-85°F).
Soil: fertile, humus rich soil that is well-draining. Ideal soil pH 6.00-6.8.
Sowing depth: 5mm deep. Water with a mist sprayer.
Spacing: Thin seedlings to stand about 15-30cm. For container growing: sow densely in containers and treat as a cut-and-come-again crop of baby leaves.
Light: bright, sunny location. For hot areas, avoid direct sun providing some shade (do not shade completely leaving them in a dark).
Watering: regular to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Fertilizing: kai lan is a moderate to heavy feeder that does best in humus-rich soil amended with composted manure. Mix ¼-½ cup complete organic fertilizer into the row before planting.
Diseases & Pests: watch out for snails, slugs, flea beetles, cabbage aphids and worms.
Companion plants: All Brassicas benefit from chamomile, dill, mint, rosemary, and sage. Avoid planting near eggplants, peppers, potatoes, or tomatoes since the level of soil acidity those plants enjoy can cause problems for all Brassicas.
