How to Grow Kale in Pots? (Step-by-Step Guide)
How to Grow Kale in Pots? Kale is one of the plants that is every farmer’s favorite choice to grow at home. It is rich in nutrients as it produces leafy green which is beneficial for all. It will begin to produce flowers at the time of its growth stage. After the frost, the leaves of the kale plant will begin to taste sweet.
Quick takeaways:
- Kale can be added to your diet in the form of salads, soups, pasta, etc.
- Kale can be grown in raised beds too and even in pots so that they add a decorative look and benefits to your home garden.
- It is easy to grow kale in your home garden. All you need is to maintain the growth of the plant so that you get desired results from it.
- Kale plants tend to live in moist locations where they receive full sun and water for their growth.
So, why not grow kale in the containers in your home? It belongs to the Brassica family from the Acephala group.
This guide will let you know about the process of growing kale in the containers.
How to Grow Kale in Pots? – Step-by-Step Guide
Being a high-mineral plant, it is adored by everyone to grow kale in their home to harden it so that they enjoy its benefits. Have you ever tried to grow kale in your garden? If yes, then it is great. But if not, then you should try to grow it as it will provide you with green leaves that are rich in fiber. It can be added to your diet amazingly.
You can make recipes as per your choice by using kale. They can be used in soups, chips, salads, etc. Some people even call kale the Queen of greens. Isn’t it great to grow such a good variety in your yard to enjoy its benefits?
You may also browse related articles to know more about the plant world, Top 7 Carrot Varieties for Containers (and Where to get Seeds?)
Below are the steps that will help you in growing kale in your home garden. Follow them properly:
Step 1- At first, you have to start sowing the seeds indoors though you want to grow them in the containers.
Step 2- Make use of the pots, and containers or even make your DIY for a decorative look.
Step 3- Now you have to add some of the soil mixes to the soil in the container selected by you.
Step 4- Take about 3-4 seeds of kale(purchased from the market or the mother plant).
Step 5- Keep the pot in the tray for about 6-7 days so that the seeds germinate properly. Try to keep them near the windowsill.
Step 6- Now, you have to grow your kale in a well-drained pot so that the plant thrives well. For one single plant, you can choose a pot of about 12-14 inches as kale needs space to grow its roots.
Step 7- Put some soil in the container and mix some organic compost into it too. Mist the soil with water so that the soil remains moist.
Step 8- Make a hole at the center and put the germinated seeds in it. Do it gently so that the plant does not get a shock. Cover the hole by spreading the soil on it.
Step 9- As you want a bushier plant, you need to water it regularly so that it grows at its best.
Step 10– Last but not least, you can put your kale plant outdoors along with the container so that it gains six hours of sunlight per day.
Basic concepts:
| Common Name | Kale, ornamental kale |
| Botanical Name | Brassica oleracea |
| Family | Brassicaceae |
| Plant Type | Annual, biennial, vegetable |
| Mature Size | 1–2 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun, partial sun |
| Soil Type | Loamy, moist, well-drained |
| Soil pH | Acidic |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Hardiness Zones | 7–9 (USDA) |
| Native Area | Europe |
How to care for the kale plants?
Caring for kale plants is an easy task. All you need is to be consistent in your efforts to maintain your kale plant. Below are the caring tips to follow:
Soil requirements
One of the things you need to maintain is the level of the soil. Kale plants tend to thrive in well-drained soil. Make sure you are not overwatering the plant so that the plant does not become waterlogged and spoil the vegetation.
Mulching
Providing mulch to your plants is also important as it will prevent the leaves from getting rotted. Make sure you are avoiding wet soil as it will mold the leaves.
Fertilization requirements
Another thing to keep in mind is to fertilize your kale plants. In the growing season of the kale, fertilize them after every 6-8 weeks. It will keep the plant healthy and strong.
Remove the discolored leaves
Last but not least, you need to remove the discolored leaves if you see any in the kale plant as it will spoil the plant slowly. Even the removal of these leaves will reduce the pests from the plant.
Types of Kale:
There are many types of kale that you can grow in your garden and there are different season and quality of the plant that would attract you for example, If you growing kale that have curled leaf are able to grow in cold weather and plant with flat leaf are able to grow faster then other kale varieties.
The following are some types of kale plants:
Hanover Salad:
These kale types are able to grow fast and come under early producers having a sweet taste that you can eat raw from salads.
Lacinato:
The lacinato kale comes from Tuscany as it has thick leaves that you can harvest after a snowfall.
Redbor:
The redbor kale type does have magenta leaves that grow with curly edges and grow in a mild, crisp flavor and texture.
Red Russian:
These are kale types that have smooth tender leaves which do have purple veins and edges. they do come under the kale varieties that are sweet.
Vates:
Vates are kale types that have dwarf, curly, and bluish-green which come under heat and cold-tolerant type. The Vates kale is derived from ‘Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch’ kale
When and How to Plant Kale?
The kale plants do come under fast-growing vegetables that grow best if you plant them with full sun. for planting them you need to sow the kale seed deep for about ½ inch and need to leave at least 1 ½ to 2 feet of space between each kale plant. Make sure where you plant the plants need high nitrogen content so that they grow in healthier leaves. For a well-draining soil mixture, you can add a few inches of organic matter in the soil which helps in producing more production.
For growing kale plants you need to plant them 3 to 5 weeks in the last frost date in the spring. It also depends on the region where you are living for example in some places you can grow kale plants in the summer where you need to plant 6 to 8 weeks before falling frost comes. The kale plants do take about 3 months to mature when they are sowed by seeding them in the soil and while planting them with cutting stems will mature within one month.
Concluding lines
In this guide, you come to know that Kale is one of the plants that is every farmer’s favorite choice to grow at home. It is rich in nutrients as it produces leafy green which is beneficial for all. Kale can be added to your diet in the form of salads, soups, pasta, etc.
It will begin to produce flowers at the time of its growth stage. After the frost, the leaves of the kale plant will begin to taste sweet.
Thank you for reading! Happy gardening!
FAQ’s:
Is it easy to grow kale?
Yes, kale can be grown easily at home. Even you grow them in pots which will give a decorative look to your home garden.
How big of a container does one need for kale?
Kale needs enough space to grow in a pot or container. You can make use of any 3-gallon pot and it will provide them space to spread its roots.
What is the right time to plant kale?
Kale tends to thrive in the time of spring. Make sure you are planting them before the frost.
How often do you water the kale?
You can water the kale regularly during its growing season. As you know they thrive in moist soil. Do not overwater the plant as it will make the soil waterlogged. Feeding them with 1-2 inches of water one time a week will also work.
