ABSTRACT

Chinese broccoli, also known as Chinese kale, kai-lan, flowering kale, or gai-lan, is a leafy vegetable, featuring thick, flat, glossy bluish-green leaves with thick stems and a small number of tiny flower curds similar to those of broccoli. The potential health benefits of gai-lan broccoli include protection against cancer, cardiovascular benefits, asthma relief and improved eye health. Chinese broccoli is a cool season crop and resistant to mild frost but may be grown round the year in both tropics and temperate regions. The sowing time of Chinese broccoli varies with climatic conditions of the growing region, but in general, the seed sowing is done from April to September in temperate regions and September to October in subtropical areas. The Chinese broccoli crop field should be kept weed free. Hoeing is done for breaking the surface crust to facilitate better aeration and water absorption.