Leafy greens
Gai lan
Chinese broccoli with tender stems, leaves and flower buds.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow direct / transplant seedlings · Aug–Apr
Core months: January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December
Temperate
Sow direct / transplant seedlings · Mar–Oct
Core months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Subtropical
Sow direct / transplant seedlings · Apr–Aug
Core months: April, May, June, July, August
Tropical
Sow direct / transplant seedlings · May–Jul
Core months: May, June, July
Arid
Sow direct / transplant seedlings · Mar–Aug
Core months: March, April, May, June, July, August
Getting started
Direct sow or transplant sturdy seedlings without burying the crown.
The right conditions
Sun to light shade in fertile, moisture-retentive soil; cooler conditions give the best quality.
As it grows
Water steadily, protect from brassica pests and make small repeat sowings.
Ready to harvest
Cut young stems just as flower buds form; side shoots may follow.
Important cautions
Rotate with non-brassica crops where soil-borne brassica disease is a concern.
Plant guidance: Desk-reviewed under the approved horticultural-synthesis method; not field-tested. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.