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You are here: Home / Gardening / Tips for Growing Kale in Your Garden

Tips for Growing Kale in Your Garden

May 24, 2021 by Katie Femia 12 Comments

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how to grow kale in your garden
Tips for Growing Kale in Your Garden including how to grow kale from seed, when to plant kale, how to transplant kale, & when and how to harvest kale plants.

These tips for growing kale from seed to harvest tell you everything you need to get started growing kale.

Tips for growing kale in your garden including how to grow kale from seed, when to plant kale, how to transplant kale, and how to harvest kale plants

Kale is the perfect garden plant for those who love their leafy greens. Excellent in salads and side dishes, kale is a plant that is rich in vitamins and minerals that your body needs. If you want to grow kale in your garden this season, take a look below at some helpful tips. These tips for how to grow kale can help you grow a crop that is healthy and prosperous. Here is what you need to know!

Tips for Growing Kale in Your Garden

Tips for Growing Kale in Your Garden including how to grow kale from seed, when to plant kale, how to transplant kale, & when and how to harvest kale plants.

How to grow kale from seed:

You can sow kale seeds as early as a few weeks before the last frost. It actually thrives in the cool temperatures and will avoid a bitter taste when grown in such conditions. To sow kale seeds, plant seeds in loose soil about ½ an inch deep and an inch apart. The place you choose to plant your seeds should have full to moderate sun.

If you wish, you can begin kale seeds indoors as long as the temperature stays under 75 degrees. To plant indoors, simply plant the kale seeds in peat pots that can be planted directly in the ground when it is time to transplant. Plant a 1/2 inch deep, just as you would if planting outdoors.

How to transplant kale:

If you are planting kale seedlings or moving your own seeds to the garden bed, you will want to be sure of a few things. First, don’t transplant seedling until they are a sturdy 4-5 inches tall. The kale seedlings should then be planted 12 inches apart. The rows of your seedlings will thrive if planted a good 18 inches apart. Give them plenty of space to open up and bloom outward.

How to care for kale seedlings:

Once you have planted your seedlings, keep these tips in mind for giving them a strong start. Begin by keeping the soil moist and cool. Watering every few days should help you achieve this. You want to add some compost along the base of the plants every four weeks in order to protect the plant, keep the roots cool, and also nourish it.

Are insects starting to hang out on your kale? You can get rid of them by handpicking them off and by removing dead or dying leaves. These dead leaves actually attract pests.

General tips for producing a good kale crop:

Making sure your kale plants are kept cool, moist, and pest free is the best way to ensure a strong crop. Since kale appeals to rodents and rabbits, be sure to put up a deterrent such as a fence to keep nibbling at bay.Tips for Growing Kale in Your Garden

Growing kale in Containers

Are you wondering if you can grow kale in a pot? The answer is yes! If you don’t have enough space for a traditional garden, you can grow kale a pot or another garden container. The pot should have a minimum of six square inches of space for the kale plant to grow in. Plant your seeds or start a seedling in the center of the pot, follow the growing instructions above. Growing kale in a container may allow you to extend its growing season by moving the pot to a shaded area once it becomes hot outside. Here are more container gardening tips.

When and how to harvest kale:

Various varieties will mature at different times, so you will want to check seed packet directions for an estimate for when your kale will be ready. A good rule of thumb is you can start cutting the outside leaves when the plant is 8 inches tall. If you want the entire plant, simply cut about two inches above the base of the plant.

If left in the garden too long, kale will become bitter. Instead, pick it when fresh and refrigerate it for up to a week.

Kale is no doubt a super food, but it is also super easy to grow. Try planting kale in your garden this season, and you will be enjoying fresh salads all summer long. Here are 10 Delicious Kale Recipes for you to try.

How to Grow Kale including how to grow kale from seed, when to plant kale, how to transplant kale, & when and how to harvest kale plants

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Comments

  1. William Wyble says

    November 4, 2020 at 6:14 am

    I TAKE KALE BLANCH IT FOR ABOUT 5 MIN SQUEESE WATER OUT AN PUT IN QT FREEZER BAGS I HAVE KALE ALL WINTER LONG. GOOD FOR SOUPS PUT IN EGGS AN OTHER THINGS. ITS UP TO YOU.

    Reply
  2. Mineli says

    September 10, 2018 at 7:45 pm

    what is the soil composition for kale pls.

    Reply
  3. Rosemin says

    August 15, 2017 at 12:58 pm

    why do I get holes in my leaves? How do I avoid them?

    Reply
  4. Sam says

    January 22, 2017 at 11:28 am

    Sun, part shade, or shade?

    Reply
  5. Linda says

    June 4, 2016 at 9:29 am

    You can put shallow dishes of beer out for slugs. They love it and will fall in and drown.

    Reply
    • panda says

      September 13, 2016 at 6:19 am

      But beer is expensive xP

      Reply
      • Joan Peck says

        June 2, 2017 at 8:26 pm

        Beer in a shallow dish; at

        Reply
  6. rob says

    May 17, 2016 at 6:35 pm

    Any ideas on how to keep the slugs away?

    Reply
    • Rachel J says

      May 31, 2016 at 10:05 am

      I’ve heard putting crushed egg shells around the base keeps them away… they don’t like the sharp edges.

      Reply
      • Chelle says

        July 9, 2016 at 7:26 pm

        I do a mix of crushed egg shells and diatomaceous earth to keep all manner of pests off my plants, works quite well

        Reply
    • Howard says

      August 13, 2016 at 12:58 pm

      Corn meal. Spread corn meal all around !!

      Reply
    • Cindy L. says

      August 31, 2017 at 3:37 pm

      1 cup warm water, 1Tbsp. whole wheat flour, 1 Tbsp. brown sugar, & 1 tsp. fast acting yeast…Mix yeast & water then add br. sugar, & flour. Pour into plastic Gatorade or other drink bottle after you cut a 4″ by 1 1/2″ window in the bottom 2″ of the bottle on 2 sides/// Bury the bottom of the bottle in your garden next to whatever you wanted to protect from slugs. It helps to use a shorter bottle or cut the top off so it’s not so easy to tip over & put another wider cover on the top of the bottle to protect from rain. the bottle is level with the ground at the bottom of the window so the slugs just fall in & drink & die!!!It’s inexpensive & very effective!!!

      Reply

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On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

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