I love kale. I love its dark green foliage, its crisp delicious leaves in stir-fries, or as a boost of nutrition in soups. Not to mention our family’s favorite, kale chips enjoyed during a family movie night. Learning how to grow kale is a lot easier than you make think!
This year I had a lot of success winter sowing my garden vegetables. One of the most victorious of those vegetables was my kale. Not only did the tiny seedlings grow strong they produced some of the most prolific kale I have ever grown.
Growing kale in your garden is a lot easier than it may seem. It’s a forgiving crop and quite easy for beginner gardeners to cultivate.
In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know to successfully grow kale from seed (or transplants).
We’ll discuss the optimal soil conditions, placement, watering, and fertilizing practices to grow and enjoy your own kale this season.
Let’s get growing!
Selecting the Right Kale Variety
The most exciting part of growing any vegetable is choosing which variety of plant to grow. Selecting the correct variety for kale cultivation is no different. Each variety offers unique tastes, textures, and growing requirements.
Curly kale is an especially popular variety of kale, boasting ruffled leaves that make it great for salads and smoothies. Tuscan kale (also referred to as Lacinato or dinosaur kale) features long narrow leaves with a sweeter tender texture than curly kale. Red Russian kale stands out with its purplish red color and milder taste than other kale varieties.
Curly kale is an ideal starting point for newcomers to growing kale, being hardy and easy to care for. Tuscan kale also adds unique flavor and texture, while Red Russian is ideal if you want a splash of color in your garden and makes a great addition to flower borders in this way.
Choosing the Ideal Growing Location
To cultivate healthy kale plants, selecting an ideal growing location is paramount. Kale is a cool-season vegetable and requires full sunlight exposure for at least six hours every day to thrive.
I have found that although kale traditionally does best in cooler weather, it has thrived in my hot Long Island summers. You will want to select a location with good soil conditions. An area with well-drained, fertile and high in organic matter is paramount for any vegetable and kale is no different.
When planning for the cultivation of kale in your garden, ensure the pH level falls between 6.0 to 7.5 and the ideal soil temperature is 60 deg F (15 deg C) which makes spring and fall ideal seasons for cultivating this crop.
If you are unsure of the Ph level of your soil, a test kit such as the MySoil kit found on Amazon can be useful. Although not an essential step, it is a good idea to get a baseline of your soil if this is your first time growing.
If you don’t have access to an outdoor plot for growing kale, don’t worry! Kale is an ideal candidate for container gardening! Select a pot at least 12 inches deep with drainage holes, along with an efficient organic potting mix such as FoxFarms Potting mix.
Be sure to adhere to spacing guides for container gardens for the optimal health and wellness of your plants.
Preparing the Soil
What’s the key to successful to any vegetable cultivation? Fertile, well-draining and nutrient-rich soil, of course.
Kale needs good drainage in order to avoid root rot, and plenty of essential vitamins for its healthy foliage production.
To prepare the soil for planting kale, start by clearing away any debris or weeds in the planting area to allow better water penetration and air circulation. Next, loosen the soil up to 12 inches using a garden fork for improved structure and root development.
Now add a layer of compost or organic matter to the soil, providing essential nutrients and helping retain moisture. Mix it in using a garden fork.
If your soil is too sandy or heavy in clay, adding sand or perlite can improve drainage. As you continue to garden and grow your own food, adding a composter to your garden can not only save you money but help eliminate unnecessary landfill waste as well.
By taking the time and care needed to properly prepare the soil for your kale plants, you’ll set them up for success.
I promise you taking this time early on will save you a lot of headache down the road.
Proper conditions will lead to healthy, vibrant plants which produce abundant quantities of delicious leaves.
Planting Kale Seeds
My absolute favorite part of planting is collecting my seeds and starting my vegetables. Planting kale seeds is an exciting first step towards starting your own kale garden!
The optimal time and method depends on your local climate. In my zone 7b, I start my seeds very early on in March. Typically kale is an annual cool-season crop which tolerates some frost.
Therefore, it should typically be planted either early spring or late summer/early fall.
As mentioned previously in this blog, when planting kale seeds in the ground it’s essential that soil preparation occurs first.
Once prepared, create shallow rows or furrows in the soil about 1/2 inch deep spaced 12-18 inches apart, sprinkle kale seeds along the rows leaving roughly an inch between each seed, cover them gently with 1/4 inch layer of soil, water the area thoroughly to ensure good seed-soil contact, then watering thoroughly to maintain proper root contact.
If you prefer planting kale seeds in containers, select one with drainage holes at least 12 inches deep and fill it with well-draining potting mix. Place seeds approximately one inch apart in 1/4-inch depth in the potting mix before watering thoroughly after planting.
Seed spacing is key when growing kale plants successfully, giving the strongest seeds enough room to develop and thrive. Thinning should begin once seedlings reach about three inches high; spacing them out 8-12 inches apart as soon as possible.
Our square-foot gardening guide is a good resource for spacing requirements and can give you a good idea of how much to grow in your garden space.
Winter sowing can also be used as an effective method for planting kale seeds and probably my favorite method. With small containers or milk jugs filled with the seeds planted during wintertime, they are left outside for cold stratification to occur naturally and create ideal germination rates.
To read more about winter sowing, check out our article here.
Transplanting Seedlings (if applicable)
If you started with seedlings, transplanting them to larger containers or garden beds is the next step in growing kale successfully. But first, it’s important to provide optimal growing conditions – enough sunlight, fertile soil, and sufficient water. After you have selected an ideal location for your kale plants, transplantation can begin!
Before transplanting seedlings, be sure to loosen their soil by either using a trowel or your hands to gently dig around their roots and loosen the surrounding soil.
Having your tools nearby can help here and I really like this set by Aimerla for my gardening tasks. After taking them from their original container, plant directly into a garden bed or transfer to larger containers as you see fit.
When planting kale seedlings, make sure they are placed about 18-24 inches apart as their roots can quickly extend beyond their container.
Furthermore, ensure they are planted at an equal depth as before in their previous container.
Maintaining Kale Plants
Once your kale seedlings have been successfully planted, proper care must be taken in order to reach their full potential.
One essential step in doing so is thinning seedlings. When they reach three inches in height, remove any weaker ones so there is enough space for healthy growth. This helps avoid overcrowding which may otherwise lead to stunted growth and reduced yields.
Promoting proper air circulation is key to cultivating healthy kale plants. Fungus diseases can quickly take hold if there’s too little air flow between plants, so give yours enough space and try not to plant too close to walls or tall plants.
Pruning kale leaves is another essential step in cultivating healthy plants.
Once your kale reaches maturity, begin trimming its outer leaves to promote continued growth by cutting near its base while leaving some stem attached.
Kale is a cut and come again plant. This means as you harvest leaves, new leaves will grow and keep producing for a continued harvest. In fact, kale may continue to produce for months after you harvest them!
Harvesting Your Kale
The best part of growing your own vegetables is harvesting time! Kale is ready as soon as 55 days after planting depending on variety and conditions. To determine if your kale is ready for harvesting, look for its leaves to have reached 6″ long.
Harvesting kale correctly means not damaging its crown, from which new leaves will emerge.
To do this, use scissors or a sharp knife to cut mature leaves away from the outer portion of the plant while leaving its crown undamaged. This will encourage new growth and extend the harvest season.
Once harvested, kale can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. For longer storage purposes, blanching your homegrown kale by boiling for two or three minutes then immediately placing in cold water ice bath to stop the cooking process.
Freeze in airtight bags for up to six months after harvesting date! You can enjoy your homegrown kale in soups or smoothies well into the depths of winter this way!
Dealing with Common Problems When Growing Kale
Kale is an easy crop to cultivate with minimal upkeep requirements and care needs, yet gardeners may experience pests, diseases and nutrient deficiencies which require attention from time-to-time.
There are some simple strategies available to deal with these problems and keep kale plants healthy.
One of the primary obstacles when growing kale is pests. Aphids, flea beetles and cabbage worms can all damage your kale plants, but organic pesticides like neem oil or insecticidal soap should help manage them effectively. Row covers may also help deter pests.
Gardeners must also watch out for diseases like black spot, downy mildew or clubroot that could infest their gardens.
To combat these dangers it’s crucial to maintain an effective garden management regime, with clean soil conditions. Remove any infected leaves or plants promptly as soon as they appear and avoid overcrowding of kale plants if possible.
Nutrient deficiencies can also wreak havoc with your kale plants. If the leaves on your plant appear yellowed or it grows slowly, this could be an indicator that they need more nourishment in their diet.
Adding compost or balanced fertilizer such as Jobe’s Organic fertilizer can be very helpful in supporting their success!
Be proactive about monitoring and preventing issues so you can reap both its delicious taste and nutritional benefits – then simply sit back and enjoy this superfood’s tasty taste and nutritional advantages!
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the optimal time to plant kale?
It all depends on your local climate. In cooler regions, indoor seed sowing should start 6-8 weeks prior to the last frost date or directly sowing in early spring. Otherwise, kale can also be grown as an outdoor crop either fall or winter crop.
How Much Sunlight Does Kale Need?
Kale thrives best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade as long as you provide at least 6-8 hours of daily exposure for optimal growth and flavor. For best results, aim to provide at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
How often should I water my kale plants?
Kale plants require regular moisture in dry periods. At a minimum, water them deeply once every seven days so the soil remains evenly damp while not becoming waterlogged. Adjust this frequency as per local weather conditions.
What are some common pests and diseases affecting kale?
Some common pests that could harm kale include aphids, caterpillars, and flea beetles. Diseases like downy mildew or powdery mildew may also pose problems for it. Regularly inspect your plants for signs of infestation before taking preventative steps like natural repellents or applying neem oil.
Can kale be grown in containers or pots?
Absolutely! Kale is well suited to container gardening. Select large pots with adequate drainage, fill them with well-draining potting mix, and place the containers in full sunlight.
How Can I Harvest Kale?
Kale leaves are ready for harvest once their outer leaves reach an edible size, usually 2 to 4 months post-planting depending on the variety. Harvest the outer leaves first while leaving the central ones unharvested as much as possible to promote continuous production. Harvest no more than one-third of your plant at any one time to maximize continuous production.
How Long Can I Store Harvested Kale?
Freshly harvested kale can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week after harvest, ideally keeping its leaves dry before placing it in a sealed plastic bag or container. Alternatively, blanch and freeze for longer-term storage options.
Final Thoughts
One of the greatest aspects of cultivating kale is that it requires minimal care and effort, enabling almost anyone to successfully cultivate this nutritious leafy green vegetable in their garden.
We encourage our readers to give it a try and experience the thrill of growing their own fresh and nutritious food.
Growing your own garden can be a wonderful way to reconnect with nature while saving money on groceries.
Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions and as always, Happy Growing!
