You also have the option of growing kale indoors. Mulching will also help keep the leaves free of splashing soil for a clean harvest. Mulch with compost, finely ground leaves, weed-free hay, straw, pine needles, or finely ground bark to keep the soil cool and moist and to keep down weeds. You can measure how much water rain has provided by using a rain gauge in the garden. Kale likes a nice, even supply of water, about 1 to 1.5 inches per week. Then, when conditions improve, the plants will take off, quickly multiplying in size. Kale planted in late summer or early fall may sulk through spells of hot weather. Plants grow best when they have access to both great soil and a continuous source of nutrition, so apply a water-soluble fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition regularly for excellent results.Īt this point you may need to be patient, because spring-planted kale may stay small until slightly warmer soil temperatures trigger vigorous growth. The leaves will grow bigger if given a lot of space, but smaller leaves tend to be the most tender. Set plants at the depth at which they are growing in the container. To create the ideal growing environment for the plant roots, fill raised beds with 100 percent organic Miracle-Gro® Raised Bed Soil and containers with Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose Container Mix. Kale is easy to plant, and grows beautifully in both raised beds and containers. Enriched with aged compost, it will improve both the texture and nutrition of the native soil. If that seems too complicated, you can simply improve your existing soil by mixing in a few inches of Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics®All Purpose In-Ground Soil with the top layer. To be sure about your soil pH, test the soil with a do-it-yourself kit, or by using your regional Cooperative Extension office. The soil pH should be 6.5 to 6.8 to discourage clubroot disease, although the plants will grow fine in a pH of 6.2 to 6.8 if clubroot is not a problem in your garden. If you forgo the soil test, work nitrogen-rich amendments such as blood meal, cottonseed meal, or composted manure into the ground before planting. Apply fertilizer and lime according to test recommendations. Enrich the soil with compost and fertilizer before setting out the seedlings. Plants that receive fewer than 6 hours of sun daily will not be as stocky or leafy as those that get ample sun, but they will still be plenty edible! Like collards, kale likes fertile soil to grow fast and produce tender leaves. Kale grows best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade as well. Be sure to choose kale starter plants from Bonnie Plants®, so you know they'll be strong and vigorous. Set out plants in spring 3 to 5 weeks before the last frost in late summer, you can begin planting kale 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost for fall and winter harvests, and continue planting throughout the fall in zones 8, 9, and 10. Leaves reach their peak flavor once they've been kissed by a light frost. Harvest kale starting with the lowermost leaves once they reach the ideal color and are large enough to eat.For nutritious kale year-round, consider an indoor, water-based growing system.Get the most out of your harvest by regularly feeding plants with a continuous-release plant food.Kale is a fast grower, so keep the soil moist by giving it 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week.Improve native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.Space kale 18 to 24 inches apart in an area with full sun and well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.5 to 6.8.In-ground gardens, raised beds, and containers are all excellent growing options. Plant kale 3 to 5 weeks before the last frost.It's a wonderful addition to smoothies, too, and tender young leaves make delicious salads. In the kitchen, kale can be steamed, stir-fried, or substituted for spinach in omelets, casseroles, or even quesadillas. You'll get a second chance to plant kale in the fall, when cool weather brings out a wonderfully sweet, nutty flavor that is unique to these cold-natured plants.įall is the best time for growing kale in areas where winter doesn't dip below the teens, or in a cold frame farther north, because the leaves are sweeter when they mature in cooler weather. They will grow steadily for months until the weather gets too warm. You can set out plants quite early in spring as long as you protect the young plants from severe cold winds with a cover. Cold-hardy and resilient, kale is an easy member of the cabbage family to grow.
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