When to plant gai lan (chinese broccoli) in California
California spans USDA zones 6b–11a, so the right time to plant gai lan (chinese broccoli) shifts by weeks across the state. The window to sow seed directly outdoors runs from about December 8 in San Mateo to May 19 in Truckee — below are local dates for 497 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Direct sow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 10b | January 2 | December 26 | December 12 – January 16 |
| San Diego | 10b | January 6 | December 21 | December 16 – January 20 |
| San Jose | 9b | January 2 | December 25 | December 12 – January 16 |
| San Francisco | 10a | December 30 | December 25 | December 9 – January 13 |
| Fresno | 9b | January 14 | December 14 | December 24 – January 28 |
| Sacramento | 9b | January 12 | December 16 | December 22 – January 26 |
| Long Beach | 10b | January 9 | January 5 | December 19 – January 23 |
| Oakland | 10a | January 7 | December 23 | December 17 – January 21 |
Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) in California: FAQ
When can I plant gai lan (chinese broccoli) in California?
Across California, the time to direct-sow gai lan (chinese broccoli) spans roughly December 8 in San Mateo to May 19 in Truckee, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the gai lan (chinese broccoli) planting date vary across California?
Yes. California publishes 497 cities with their own frost dates, so the right gai lan (chinese broccoli) planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
How long does gai lan (chinese broccoli) take to grow in California?
Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) takes about 50–70 days to reach harvest once planted — check that this fits inside your city's frost-free season on its place page.
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