Kale: How to Grow and When to Plant in Your Backyard or Patio Garden!

By CarrieGrowing Food, Growing Guides
Kale blog post
Kale is one of the things we grow the most. Its leaves are very nutritious, containing high levels of vitamins A, B, C, and K and large amounts of fiber, potassium, and calcium. It is also one of the few plants that we can grow all winter long. We plant it in the fall, and it typically grows all the way until the following summer.

How to Grow:

Kale is a cool season crop that is best planted 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost and 6 weeks before your first fall frost. You can see specific dates for your location using our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App.

Kale seeds are planted 1/4 inch deep, 1 per square, in the full sun. Take care to notice what plants are around the area as well, see the companion plant section below. Kale will sprout in approximately 4-7 days. Make sure to require consistent moisture.

Companion Plants:

Companion planting is a vital part of organic gardening. Companion plants assist in the growth of others by attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, or providing nutrients, shade, or support. There are also plants that do not like being next to each other. Some plants get too tall and can provide too much shade for your plant. Sometimes certain plants attract the same pests, so it is important to try and separate these.

         GoodBad
CatnipOreganoBeans (bush & pole)
CeleryPotatoesBroccoli
DillRhubarbCabbage
OnionsRosemaryCauliflower
MarigoldsSageKohlrabi
MarjoramTarragonStrawberries
MintThymeTomatoes (bush & vine)
Nasturtiums  

See companion plants for 80+ foods in our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web app!

Pests:

Pests can be one of the most difficult challenges you face in the garden. We strive to grow food without the use of pesticide and luckily there are natural solutions for most of these nasty pests! The pests listed below are common ones for kale:

Learn more about how to manage pests and attract beneficial insects in our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App!

Harvesting:

Kale will be ready to harvest in approximately 70 days. Kale is ready for harvest when the leaves are approximately the size of your hand. Only harvest a few leaves at a time, and leave the center leaves in place to help keep the plant productive. New leaves will continue to grow as the season permits.

Cooking & Eating!

Kale can be eaten raw in salads or burritos. We typically mix it with spinach, lettuce, or other greens from the garden. Don\’t be afraid to throw it in with your next stir-fry or spaghetti sauce either!

 

Learn more about growing over 80 different foods, including how to manage various pests in our FREE iOS, Android, or new Universal Web App!

kale

18 thoughts on “Kale: How to Grow and When to Plant in Your Backyard or Patio Garden!”

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