Kale is a cold-hardy crop that can be planted in early spring or late summer. Cool weather brings out the sweet, nutty flavor of this highly nutritious leafy green. Dive into our Kale Growing guide for information on planting, growing, and harvesting this hard-working beauty.
Kale is a member of the Brassica family, like cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and other common “cole crops.”
In the spring, kale can be started from seed and young kale plants can be set out very early (3 to 5 weeks before the last frost). But in many regions, kale is best grown in autumn, when temperatures are cooler. Kale tastes better when the leaves mature in cold weather.
Kale is versatile in the garden, growing in traditional beds or raised beds and containers. It’s also versatile in the kitchen and a nutritious addition to salads, stir fries, omelettes, casseroles, and other dishes.
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It sounds like your kale has
It sounds like your kale has bolted,or gone to seed. This occurs when the plant is to hot ,dry,or otherwise stressed.
You can cut back the flowery stem and it may produce more leaves. But chances are it's done producing well.
So, either let it go and harvest seed or try to start over.I had the same problem with some of my spring crop, as it has been an extremely warm,early season.
Hope this helped!!!
actually it is a little late
actually it is a little late to cut the flower. it is already finished the vernalization. it will only grow flowers and seeds, even you cut the flower, no more leaves again.
you can keep it and get the seeds. Seed the seeds and keep it from vernalization(low temperature).
should kale be soaked in
should kale be soaked in water after harvesting like lettuce or should it just be rinsed ?
We wash ours like lettuce and
We wash ours like lettuce and spin dry. Difinately soak and wash if there have been chemicals sprayed on the leaves. One batch we got had a tone afids, so we soaked them in the sink with just a touch of bleach, shook dry and ate. If the afids liked the leaves, they were really the best.
I was harvesting and enjoying
I was harvesting and enjoying my kale but now the leaves have little thorns on them--even the newest leaves coming up. I noticed when I went to harvest some and it pricked my finger. What is going on??
We usually only see prickles
We usually only see prickles on older kale, not the young leaf. Some types of kale (Russian Kale) are indeed prickly but not when you cook it!
I bought a planter with about
I bought a planter with about 4-5 kale plants all planted closely together. After doing some research (of course, after the fact), I've determined that the planter isn't big enough for even one kale plant. The plants are already about 12" tall and the roots are all intertwined and crammed agains the edges of the planter and begging to be re-planted. Am I better off transplanting the entire mass and hoping for the best, or would it be better to cut through the roots to separate them? I'd like to re-plant them in as ideal conditions as possible, but don't want to kill them trying to separate them.
Remove the kale from the
Remove the kale from the planter and see if you can gently pull the roots apart without breaking them. If you can then it's better to replant the individual plants in bigger pots or in the garden. If you can't pull them apart then we suggest that you transplant them all together into a large container with fresh soil or dig a large whole and plant them in the garden.
Thanks, will try this! :)
Thanks, will try this! :)
Does anyone know if you can
Does anyone know if you can pickle kale seed pods? I know you can do it with radish pods quite successfully, but I let a handful of my kale plants go to flower so the bees had something to eat and now I have a bunch of seed pods... curious as to how they would taste and wonder if there is any reason I shouldn't try...
my kale is has a tall flower
my kale is has a tall flower coming out at the top. my brocolli does too. do i cut and start over can igather seeds somehow
Kale will grow a long seed
Kale will grow a long seed pod near the flowers - the seeds don't live in the flower itself. Wait until the pods have grown to their fullest size and started to dry - then you can snip them, split the pod and find the seeds inside. These can be replanted.
Can I start my kale in a pot
Can I start my kale in a pot when it is very little and then transplant it in my garden when it is bigger.
Kale should transplant
Kale should transplant successfully, yes.
Hello! Sirs/Ma'mes Can I get
Hello!
Sirs/Ma'mes
Can I get seeds to plant kale in India. I am resident of Udaipur, Raasthan, India, where winter is very pleasant and sometimes temperature reaches to 4-5 degree centigrade (Low) but during summer it can reach at high of 44-45 degrees.
How much kale per sq.
How much kale per sq. Foot?
Thanks.
Jesus Christ loves YOU, kaleisgood
I'd just plant one per square
I'd just plant one per square foot, maybe two if you are disciplined. Kale can get huge.
The rest of my kale garden
The rest of my kale garden froze pretty harshly...can I still harvest and cook it?
Mild frosts tend to improve
Mild frosts tend to improve the flavor of kale but a hard freeze is likely to chill the life out of it. You might look for a few good leaves under the top ones, Diane, but from what you've described, we would not expect much, if anything, to harvest and cook.
In future, pick in advance of a hard freeze, steam to wilt, and pack to put into the freezer for use in soups and stews through the year.
My plants were great all
My plants were great all spring,summer and fall.Prior to reading your blog this morning I pulled all my plants.Should i replant the plants or just move forward to replanting new plants this spring. I guess I'm asking would these plants survive a harsh winter and re-flower this coming spring.I live in the northeast near Philadelphia.
Don't bother to replant the
Don't bother to replant the kale, Ron. It's an annual and would not restart. Hopefully you pulled any "good" leaves and saved them to eat in whatever way you like best.
Next year, grow them again—but in a different place; remember to rotate for best results!
I'm still a new gardener, but
I'm still a new gardener, but finishing my first serious season, and I feel like I'm raising more questions than vegetables... The lacinato kale I planted in an 8" deep raised bed (SFG method) last spring is still going well, having survived several barrages of various bugs/worms. The plants look like trees now, with "trunks" where the lower leaves have been harvested, and new leaves continuing to come out the tops. Can it continue through the fall, maybe even into the winter, or would it be better to start another crop? If better to start with new plants now, in late August, should I plant them in a different location? And if so, is there a particularly good fall crop to follow in this space after brassicas? Thanks!
Hi Ellen, Sounds like you
Hi Ellen,
Sounds like you have a wonderful kale crop. If the plants are healthy and growing new leaves there is no need to start new plants. The plants you have are well established and will continue to grow into the winter months.
I think i accidently grew
I think i accidently grew kale with kale seeds and the stems are purple and the leaves are green i dont know if its a weed or kale
Hi Ethan, There are so many
Hi Ethan, There are so many varieties of kale that any of us might get confused! Some kale has purple stems (such as Redbor Kale). Here's an interesting page that shows pictures of different kale varieties if that helps! http://ecolocalizer.com/2012/0...
What can I use to deter pests
What can I use to deter pests chewing small holes in the kale leaves?!
The Diamondback moth larva
The Diamondback moth larva makes small holes in kale leaves. Cabbage worms can also be a problem.B.t. insecticide will control all the cabbage caterpillars.
this comment section is/and
this comment section is/and has been so helpful.
many of my questions are answered before i ask.
thank you.
We are glad you find the
We are glad you find the information helpful, Gerard. Good luck in the garden!
Hi. I grew purple kale this
Hi.
I grew purple kale this year in 15" pots from seedlings picked up at the local nursery. The plants did great until I harvested for the first time. I left a few good leaves on each plant and they've pretty much all wilted and died. The ones with a few robust green leaves still on them only have about an inch of root left. Can these be brought back to life? How? Thx.
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