When Should I Start Kale?

Kale can be planted three to five weeks prior to your area’s projected last frost date in the spring. In most regions, gardeners can harvest kale in the summer by planting it at this time. It can also be planted in late summer roughly six to eight weeks before your first fall frost.

What month should I plant kale?

Soil, Planting, and Care. 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.

When should you start kale seeds indoors?

Direct sow in early spring to mid-summer for summer to winter harvests. Or start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost, and transplant out as soon as the soil warms up. Optimal soil temperature: 10-30°C (50-85°F). Seeds should germinate in 7-10 days.

Is kale easy to grow from seed?

It’s easy to grow kale from seed, too. Also known as borecole, kale is a member of the cabbage family, a brassica. It is hardy and grows best in cooler temperatures – the cold weather gives the leaves a sweeter flavor.

How long does kale take to grow from seed?

It usually takes up to 95 days for kale to be ready after planting it from seed. Don’t pick the terminal bud at the top of the plant, but harvest one fistful of leaves each time you pick the kale. Kale can grow until temperatures reach 20 degrees, and frost adds to the taste.

Can I plant kale in March?

Kale is a cool weather crop, so it grows best in the spring and fall and in locations where it can receive plenty of sunlight. In the spring, you can plant seeds outside immediately after the last frost. At this point, the soil will have warmed enough for germination to occur.

Can I plant kale in February?

Best Months for Planting
In Mediterranean-like climates, kale seedlings should be set out in February, March or April for spring crops, and in August or September for fall and winter harvesting. Seeds are typically started indoors and transplanted into the garden after about 4 to 6 weeks of growing.

Do I need to soak kale seeds before planting?

Should you soak Kale seeds before planting? Soaking Kale seeds for 24 hours before planting can significantly cut down on germination time and overall effort. To soak seeds, just put them in a cup of water for about 24 hours.

Do kale seeds need darkness to germinate?

You can continue to start new kale seeds (indoors or outdoors) throughout the spring and summer to get continuous harvests of young leaves. Kale can grow in part to full sun; in the intense heat of mid-summer, kale will grow better when grown in part shade (less than 6 hours of direct sunlight).

Will kale germinate in cold weather?

According to Burpee, kale can survive even when temperatures fall to 10 below zero Fahrenheit. The plant can survive through the entire winter in areas where temperatures don’t get too cold. If you live in USDA zone 7 or above, kale will grow through the winter, according to Bonnie Plants.

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.

Does kale regrow after winter?

In USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 10, biennial kale will continue to produce edible leaves throughout the winter. While in colder zones, these plants will go dormant during the winter – which means their leaves may die back, but their root systems will remain alive.

How do you prepare a nursery bed for kale?

Cover nursery bed with a thin layer of dry grass (mulch), which should be removed after seed germination. Water the nursery bed.
Tips!

1. Kale can tolerate slightly alkaline soil and frost.
2. It requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily and prefers plentiful, consistent moisture.
3. Some varieties are drought tolerant.

Does kale regrow after cutting?

Does kale regrow after picking? When kale is harvested carefully, it works as a cut and come again vegetable that grows back to regenerate its leaves for multiple harvests. For your kale to grow back, harvest the oldest leaves first—the ones on the outside of the plant at the base.

What’s the easiest vegetable to grow?

10 Easiest Vegetables to Grow Yourself

1. Lettuce. We’ve never known a garden that cannot grow lettuce.
2. Green Beans. Beans grow even in fairly poor soils, because they fix the nitrogen as they go!
3. Peas.
4. Radishes.
5. Carrots.
6. Cucumbers.
7. Kale.
8. Swiss Chard.

How often should you water kale?

How Often Should I Water Kale? Kale, like other leafy vegetables, requires a fair amount of water to thrive and grow. You should give your kale plants around 1 to 1.5 inches of water every week. This equates to around 1 gallon of water per square foot of soil (4 liters per 30 square centimeters).

Can I plant kale in January?

January is also a good time to plant fruit trees. If you are having a mild winter, you can transplant seedlings of onions, broccoli, cabbage, chard, and kale.

At what temperature does kale germinate?

To direct seed, simply sow seeds under about half an inch of soil with 10 inches of space in between seeds. Kale seeds will germinate as long as the soil temperature is above 45°F.

Does kale need full sun?

One of the most nutritious shade loving vegetables around, kale thrives in just a few hours of sunlight per day. Kale is also extremely cold tolerant, making it a great crop for fall harvests.

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.

How big should kale be before transplanting?

Cut individual leaves for use when the plant is 8 to 10 inches high; cut the outside leaves first. If you harvest the entire plant, cut 2 inches above the soil and the plant will sprout new leaves in 1 to 2 weeks. Harvest kale before it gets old and tough.