This super cool and tasty vegetable called Gai Lan, also known as Chinese broccoli. It’s a leafy green veggie that comes from Asia and is loved for its crunchy stalks and big, dark green leaves. Sounds fun, right? Let’s dive in! Growing your own veggies at home is like doing a little science experiment and it’s so much fun! Using hydroponics, you can grow Gai Lan indoors, even in the winter. We like to use the Deep Water Culture (DWC), one of the easiest hydroponic methods to try.
How to grow Gai Lan in hydroponics
What You’ll Need
- Gai Lan seeds
- Coco coir
- Worm casting
- Clay pebbles (to support the plant in the net pot)
- Net pots (tiny baskets for the plants)
- DWC system (a plastic container with water, an air pump, and bubbles)
- Nutrient solution (plant food)
- Grow lights (if you’re growing indoors)
How to grow Gai Lan step by step
- Start your seeds in coco coir:
- Take a small amount of coco coir and worm castings
- Wet the medium and place it in a small container.
- Plant 2-3 Gai Lan seeds and keep it moist. In a few days, the seeds will sprout!
- Wait for true leaves:
- After a week or two, your baby Gai Lan plants will grow their first true leaves
- Transfer to clay pebbles:
- Gently remove the sprouted plant and coco coir.
- Place the plant in a net pot and surround the roots with clay pebbles. The pebbles will hold the plant in place and let the roots grow freely.
- Set up your DWC system:
- Fill the DWC container with water and mix in the nutrient solution
- Place the net pot with the plant into the DWC system, making sure the roots touch the water.
- Give them light:
- If you’re growing indoors, turn on your grow lights for 12-16 hours a day.
- Check the water level and pH every few days (it should be between 5.5 and 6.5).
- Grow:
- In 45-60 days, your Gai Lan will grow big, leafy, and ready to harvest. Pick the leaves and stalks when they look fresh and green!
Using coco coir and worm castings to sprout seeds is easy and clean, and transferring them to clay pebbles helps the roots spread out and soak up nutrients. It’s simple, fun, and your Gai Lan will grow super fast in the DWC system!
Hydroponics is so awesome!!!
- No soil, no mess! Your plants grow in water instead of dirt.
- Fast growth: Gai Lan grows quickly, and with the nutrients and oxygen in the water, it grows even faster in hydroponics!
Gai Lan is like the superhero of vegetables! Here’s why:
- It’s packed with Vitamin A (great for your eyes), Vitamin C (helps you stay strong and fight colds), and Vitamin K (keeps your bones and blood healthy).
- It’s also loaded with calcium (to build strong bones) and iron (to give you energy).
Plus, it grows super quickly – in just 45 to 60 days. That means if you want, you can grow it inside your house during the winter and have fresh veggies before you know it!
Simple and tasty recipe:
This is how we cook our Gai Lan! Hope you get to try it too.
What You Need:
- Fresh Gai Lan
- 2 Garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oil (we like to use sesame oil)
- A pinch of sugar (optional)
How to Make It:
- Wash the gai lan: Make sure the leaves and stalks are clean by rinsing them under water.
- Cut the stalks into smaller pieces so it’s easier to eat.
- Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and stir it around until it smells amazing (this takes about 30 seconds).
- Add the gai lan: Toss the Gai Lan into the pan and stir it around. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the leaves turn bright green and the stalks get tender.
- Pour the soy sauce over the Gai Lan and sprinkle a pinch of sugar if you like a touch of sweetness. Stir everything together.
- That’s it! Your yummy Gai Lan is ready to eat.
What do you think? Ready to grow it and cook Gai Lan at home? Let us know if you have any questions!
This picture was when our little guy was much smaller and he just couldn’t handle the weight of the gai lan😅
