![]() Kale likes full sun during the cool season, about six hours of sunlight per day. My favorites are Miracle-Gro Potting Mix and Fox Farm Ocean Forest Potting Soil Mix. Avoid using garden soil in containers, as the consistency isn’t designed for optimal drainage in a container, and garden soil may harbor pests and fungi.Īlways use the best quality potting mix you can, to be sure you’re getting good moisture control and the right balance of organic matter and nutrients. So fill the container with high quality potting mix and water it well. Kale does best in loamy, well-drained soil. I have kale in fabric grow bags and it thrives season after season! This year I let it go dormant in fall in the fabric container, and it happily re-emerged in late winter.įabric grow bags are seriously my favorite container garden container (I grow just about everything in these things, from kale to peas to pumpkins).įor kale I recommend 20-gallon fabric grow bags (20″ diameter, 16″ depth) or 15-gallon fabric grow bags (20″ diameter, 12″ depth). Small pots don’t have enough room for kale to grow hearty roots. ![]() Kale can grow anywhere from 24” to 48” tall and 12” to 24” wide – so it needs a good-sized pot.Ĭhoose a container that’s at least 12″ deep and has good drainage (either 1-2 drainage holes or a fabric bottom). ![]() Transplant into individual pots when they are 4-6″ tall. Once they germinate, thin out the seedlings so that only the strongest ones remain. Kale germinates within 5-10 days and can mature as soon as 30-60 days! That’s fast! Place the pot in a warm, sunny location and keep an eye out for germination. Mist the container to keep seeds moist but not soggy. (You can also sow in potting soil directly in the container you’re using for the season.) That’s what I use, and I’ve had good results with both and highly recommend these brands. You can use a soilless seed-starting medium like coconut coir or Miracle-Gro seed-starting mix in a seed-starting tray. Transplant kale seedlings after about 4 weeks - and be sure to harden off your seedlings!įor best results, sow seeds thinly on the surface of your seed-starting mix, no more than ¼” deep. You can also start indoors in early spring, 6 weeks before your area’s average last frost date. If you live in a very warm climate and plan to grow kale over the winter, you can plant anytime in the fall. It’s worth planting early to make the most of those cool temperatures! Kale prefers soil temperatures in the 60-75 degree range. If you live in a cold climate, you can sow a bit later in spring, but don’t wait too long. If growing in spring or summer, sow kale seeds outside about 4 weeks before your average last frost date (find yours on this frost date calculator).įor a fall planting, sow about 6 weeks before your average first frost date. Growing kale from seed is relatively easy. There are three main varieties of kale most commonly used for culinary purposes: Kale in my container garden, sharing a fabric grow bag with some lettuce Best kale varieties for containers If you buy something through these links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. ![]() Read on for all the details about growing your own kale in pots, and try some this season! It’s a relatively easy plant to grow and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, which really does make it perfect for beginner gardeners.Īnd best of all, it’s easy to grow your own! Kale grows FAST, maturing in as little as 30 days with minimal care. ![]() Like most leafy greens, kale prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade. It’s technically a biennial grown as an annual, so it is possible to get more than one season from one plant. In fact, it can withstand temperatures as low as 20 degrees F! In very warm climates, kale can be grown as a winter crop. Kale is a cool weather crop that can be planted in the spring or fall. It’s a superfood favorite, often used in smoothies, salads, soups, and stir fries. Kale originates from the Mediterranean and has been popular in European cuisine for centuries. Growing kale in pots is easy – and it’s awesome to have fresh kale right outside your kitchen door!ĭid you know kale is a type of cabbage, closely related to collard greens and Brussels sprouts? It doesn’t form a head the same way cabbage does, but they share many other characteristics and growing condition preferences. Kale is a nutrient-rich leafy green that thrives in container gardens, much like lettuce, spinach and other greens. It’s a versatile, cold-hardy crop that isn’t fussy about conditions, making it a great starter plant for beginner gardeners. ![]()
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