How Long Do Kale Plants Last?

2 years.
Kale will grow for up to 2 years in your garden. The first year of growth gives you plenty of delicious leaves. In the second year, your plants will focus on producing seeds. Grow your kale as annuals if you just want leaves from your plants.

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Does kale come back every year?

Does kale come back every year? Most kales are biennials, meaning they will take around two years from seedling before they eventually bolt and produce flowers and seeds. However, if you’re growing kale for its harvest of leaves it’s more likely that you’ll replace it every year and it will be more successful that way.

Does kale keep growing back?

When kale is harvested properly, it works as a cut and come again vegetable that quickly grows back to regenerate its leaves for multiple harvests. For your kale to grow back, harvest the oldest leaves first—those on the outside of the plant at the bottom.

How do you harvest kale so it keeps growing?

All varieties of this vegetable are harvested in the same way. For mature plants, grasp the stem of a mature outer leaf at the base of the main stalk and pull down and out, away from the center, until it breaks. Repeat this process to pick all the greens you want.

Can kale last multiple years?

Called “biennials,” these plants complete their reproduction (and entire life cycle) over a two-year period. Kale is one such plant – and it finds itself in good company! Carrots, parsley, leeks, and hollyhocks are also biennial plants.

When should I remove kale from my garden?

Harvest when leaves are about the size of your palm.
Fully matured kale leaves are about the size of your hand. Your kale plant will begin to produce leaves this size about 70 days after planting. Once the leaves are this size, your kale is ready and you should quickly harvest, as they’ll go bitter shortly after this.

When should kale be cut back?

Kale can be pruned any time, but most gardeners who prune their kale do it when the yield is declining later into the season. Instead of removing the kale plants, they will just prune them so they can start growing back.

Does kale survive winter?

Certain crops such as broccoli, cabbage, claytonia, kale, and spinach can easily survive through the winter without any protection. Other crops like arugula, leeks and lettuce often die when unprotected during periods of extreme winter cold.

Should I let my kale flower?

Those tiny flower buds that appear on your kale plants at the end of the season don’t necessarily mean the end of your crop. In fact, just the opposite: the florets are a bonus harvest you can eat, and they turn even sweeter if you’ve had frost.

What happens when kale bolts?

When kale, or any plant, bolts, it means that it has reached full maturity and is ready to produce seeds. When you see signs of bolting, act quickly to pick your last harvest.

Can you eat kale raw?

Kale is a dark, leafy green you can eat raw or cooked. This superfood has been on dinner plates since Roman times and has long been common across much of Europe. The vegetable hails from the cabbage family, which also includes broccoli, cauliflower, and collards.

Why is my kale so tall?

However, if you noticed that kale is tall and skinny, it means that plant is bolting – vegetable is going to seed prematurely. Most plants, including kale, bolt due to hot weather. Remember that kale is a cool temperature plant and temperature above 65°F causes kale to bolt and produce seeds.

Is kale OK to eat if it turns yellow?

The bottom line is that harvested kale that’s turned yellow in the fridge due to aging is likely safe to eat, but may be undesirably bitter.

What can you not plant with kale?

Avoid planting kale with other brassicas (like broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and Swiss chard), as they can fall prey to the same pests and diseases.

How do you take care of kale plants?

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. Improve native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. Kale is a fast grower, so keep the soil moist by giving it 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week.

Do you water kale every day?

Once your seeds have germinated and have reached 2-3 inches, you’ll be ready to plant your kale. After planting, you need to water daily. The best times of day to water are early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Can you move established kale plants?

Very carefully with a shovel dig the plant out. If you feel like you are snagging on a plant root, trace it with your hands and dig it out – careful, try not to rip any roots! This is one kale plant dug up. Once you dig it up, replant it in a large pot.

How cold is too cold for kale?

Kale. Kale can withstand temperatures as low as 10 degrees and is also noted for improved sweetness after frost. A very hardy vegetable, kale not only tolerates the cold, but it has no problems with insects like cabbage can have.

Will kale survive a hard freeze?

Hardier plants such as spinach and kale will survive until there’s a hard freeze—28 degrees and colder. (We explain the frost tolerance level of different crops below.) As gardeners, our frost dates are based on 32 degrees to avoid the risk of any plant death.

What to do with kale after it bolts?

If you think your kale is bolting, pick the leaves immediately, before they have before they begin to change texture and flavor. Lightly massaging the leaves can help restore some of the sweetness that might have been lost.

Is flowering kale an annual or perennial?

biennial
Ornamental kale plants were developed by selecting kale plants with unique foliage color. While considered an annual, ornamental kale is botanically a biennial. This means that it produces foliage the first year and flowers the second year. Most valued for its foliage, ornamental kale is grown as an annual.