If your preferred gardening method is to grow your veggies in raised beds, you are probably using some form of square foot gardening to guide your planting layout. Make sure you water the plant thoroughly afterwards. How close or far apart you space kale depends on your goals and the needs of your garden. Turnip is spaced 4 inches apart in the row. Kristina Hicks-Hamblin lives on a dryland permaculture homestead in the high desert of Utah. Once you’ve thinned the plants, you should have one kale plant every 12 or 18 inches. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Chinese kale, for example, is a variety that grows on the small side, and only has a spread of about 8 inches. drop below 50°F. Space plants 1 to 3 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart. But, when you plant seeds you have no way of knowing how many will actually germinated and produce a plant. Portuguese kale is known as a couve trochuda, Portuguese cabbage, and Sea kale. Square foot gardening is all the rage these days. This may leave you with a little extra room between crops, but better to err on the side of a bit of additional space than too much crowding. SEED SPECS: SEEDS/LB. Kale seeds are sized, except when noted in the product description. If you are growing several kale plants together in a larger container, space the seeds 3 inches apart, and thin them after the first four true leaves appear so that each plant is at the center of an 8 inch to 12 inch space. She is a Certified Permaculture Designer and a Building Biology Environmental Consultant, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Lacinato Kale may be direct-seeded or transplanted, although we recommend transplanting. If you’re setting out plants (which is more common), plant them at the depth at which they are growing in the container. The spacing needs for ornamental kale are also somewhat different than the spacing for edible kale. One plant will probably be sufficient to feed two people during the warmer months of the year but two plants enable harvests during the colder months when leaves are smaller and regrowth is slower. If you are planting baby kale in a container, use the same spacing you would use in an in-ground garden, leaving about an inch between seeds. Plants will begin to color once temps. So what are the magic numbers for growing kale in containers? Fill with soil to the top of the root ball. Grow 4 to 5 plants per person. Daubenton Kale. Consistent moisture will produce the best quality leaves. How close you plant kale in the garden depends in part on whether you’re planting seeds or transplants. If you’re setting out plants, and plant them at the depth at which they are growing in the container. And a good mulch is also helpful to keep plants moist and weed free. Photo: Sarah Cannon. Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked or start transplants 4 weeks before planting date. In cramped conditions, it’s easier for fungus and bacteria to spread, leading to disease. Baby kale and microgreens are the same plants as full-sized kale. What about spacing, timing, soil prep, aftercare? The green leaves are wide and large with thick midribs and stems growing up to 2 feet. Kale Spacing 101 (Important Dos & Don’ts), How to Get Rid of Ground Bees in 3 Easy Steps, Best Portable Greenhouse For Outdoor Growing, Best Cordless Snow Blower For Light Duty Use, The Best Husqvarna Snow Blower For Residential And Professional Use, Our Picks for the Best Fertilizer for Onions, Our Picks for the Best Fertilizer for Kale. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Whether served as kale chips, in a cheesy gratin, or simply steamed, kale has taken the vegetable world by storm. Now is the time to thin the plants, giving them ample room to grow into mature kale. Before you direct sow kale seeds in your garden, you’ll want to prepare the soil so that it has enough... Start Seeds Indoors. Kale prefers soil that is moist and cool. In northern regions, leave a few plants in the garden to harvest after the snow flies. PACKET: 100 seeds, sows 22'. Planting and spacing of Kale plants. Daubenton kale is a perennial kale that forms an attractive shrubby mound of mild and nutty-flavoured leaves. Carefully remove the plant from its pot and gently loosen the root ball with your hands to encourage good root development. The green leaves are wide and large with thick midribs and stems growing up to 2 feet. And the rare ‘Thousand Head’ cultivar has leaves that can grow up to 3 feet long, so you might need 6 feet or more between individual plants. Mature plants can grow up to 30 inches wide. Some varieties will grow up to two feet in width. Sow seeds for “baby” kale by planting seeds in bands or wide rows. Kale plants require rich, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Yield 4 to 8 pounds per 10-foot row. Leaving enough room around your plants helps to ensure that the leaves get plenty of sun, resulting in healthy, thriving crops. What you will need is the seed spacing/plant spacing number. If you’re planting during the cool season, find a spot where your kale will receive full sunshine. For a little garden inspiration, try out this salad garden layout we made based on our 4×4 Garden Grid™ watering system. USES: Long-lasting cut flower. Space plants 1 – 1½ feet apart in rows 2 feet apart. NC State Extension recommends mulching kale plants with a … Direct sowing means you start the plants from seed, outdoors, right in the spot they will grow in. Light Full sun to part shade; Leaf size 6- to 18-inch long; Matures 45+ days; Plant spacing 18 to 24 inches apart; Plant size 2 to 3 feet wide and tall One of my favorite ways to utilize ornamental kale in designs is to plant it in clusters of threes. Ornamental kale is one of the easiest cool-weather plants to care for. The baby kale will be ready to harvest when it has about three sets of leaves. See our TOS for more details. ‘A NYONE CAN GROW KALE,’ the seed farmers at Adaptive Seeds—who have collected kales from around the world and made them a specialty—said recently, seeming to beg me to ask, “How?” Do I start indoors, or direct sow? Plant the seeds 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch apart. When you plant a kale seedling, dig a hole in the soil about the size of the plant’s root ball. As with most vegetables, closer spacing will result in smaller, “baby leaf” plants, and farther spacing will result in larger heads or plants. Since most kale varieties grow from a central stem, you can take the leaf length and multiply it by two to get the approximate spread of your plant. Kale (Brassica oleracea var. Whether you are growing your kale in containers, raised beds, or rows, for young tender leaves or big thick ones, and no matter what variety you pick, you should now have a solid idea of how far apart to space them. Sow indoors in spring and set out under cloches when plants have 5 leaves. From the masters, then: How to grow kale. Cut the mini kale plants down right at the soil line. But to harvest the most abundant and delicious leafy greens from this member of the Brassicaceae family, it’s important to provide adequate spacing between these leafy veggies. Advertisement. : Avg. The most unique and visually stunning kale I know of—”dinosaur” kale. COPYRIGHT © 2020 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. 600-1000 seeds in packet. When to Sow. When the seedlings are 4-5 inches tall, snip the weaker seedlings off just above the soil, leaving only the strongest one to grow. Greens grow best in a well-drained soil with lots of organic matter. ‘Nero Toscana,’ a Lacinato-type cultivar Plants spaced more than 6" will produce heads that are too large for cut flower use. Are you planning on harvesting young leaves or large ones from this cruciferous crop? 36″ – 48″ (90-120 cm.) Damp garden bed Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked or start transplants 4 weeks before planting date. 1. Space 45cm (18in) between plants. Recommendations for baby greens are the same whether you’re planting in rows, garden beds, or containers. She also argues that the plants help protect each other when they are closer together. When - Start in midsummer for a late-fall winter crop. Leave at least one foot of space between each of the plants. The more common ‘Red Russian’ variety can grow up to 24 inches wide at maturity. If your preferred way to eat kale is in salads, you’ll probably prefer to harvest this veggie in its young stage, as tender baby greens. When you can clearly identify each individual plant instead of picking through a mass of tangled leaves, it is much easier to, Keeping these vegetables well-spaced instead of crowded makes it easier to, Ensuring good airflow around leaves helps ward off fungal infections, and makes it easier to. It is. Start another planting indoors in midsummer, and set out in early fall. Plants will benefit from adding well-composted manure to the soil before planting. Did this article help you find your magic numbers, the ones you can use to space out your kale for perfectly placed plants? We hope this plant spacing chart will make things … If you’re planting during the cool season, do so where your crop will get full sun. Those magic numbers depend on a few different factors. Kristina loves the challenges of dryland gardening and teaching others to use climate compatible gardening techniques, and she strives towards creating gardens where there are as many birds and bees as there are edibles. She argues for planting kale seedlings closer together, about six inches apart. If I want full sized plants, I plant two per square foot. Plants will begin to color once temps. A cold-hardy vegetable, kale leaves sweeten after frost. Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart. What exactly are these magic numbers, the number of inches between plants that will encourage your crop to thrive while still allowing you to make efficient use of your garden’s footprint? >> Take a look at kale seeds on Amazon <<. But what do you do if you can’t find how wide the variety you have chosen is supposed to grow? HARVEST: Kale should have a 6" head on a 24" stem with good coloring. Spacing for Different Varieties The above recommendations are guidelines that work well for average-sized kale. You’ll want to plant the seeds very closely together, so that you end up with a dense carpet of tiny greens. Yes, kale (Brassica oleracea) will grow in containers, and not only that, but it’s easy to grow your own potted kale plants and they don’t need much space. ... Plant Spacing: Plant Height: 45-85°F: 1/4-1/2" 1" 12" 18-36" 24" Days to maturity are from direct seeding, subtract 2 weeks if transplanting. 60cm apart. A cold-hardy vegetable, kale leaves sweeten after frost. Continue thinning your seedlings throughout the growing season until plants are 4-8 inches apart – our first set of magic numbers. Ornamental varieties can thrive in more cramped conditions, since they are smaller plants. Kale Plant. This year, kale was at the top of the list. But – I bet you have been wondering – what if you’re planting a special cultivar that is larger or smaller than average? If you’re starting with seeds instead of transplants, sow several seeds in the center point of your square. She states that planting kale closer together allows her to grow more in a smaller space. Ornamental or flowering kale varieties are usually smaller than varieties grown for food. Place the top of the root ball even with the level of the surrounding soil. Although spacing for full sized plants is similar for rows, raised beds, and containers, there are some slight differences, which I’ll go over here. Kale is a hardy biennial (it take two years to go to flower and complete its life-cycle), but it is usually grown as an annual. How - In rows 18 inches to 2 feet apart. And even if you interplant your kale crop with good companions like I do, you’ll still want to know how much room each of your plants will need so that you can plan your garden accordingly. Set transplants 12-24 inches apart. Some of these links may be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if items are purchased. Kale. And what varieties will you be growing? When you plant it, make sure the root ball is loosened and that you sink the plant into the soil until the bottoms of the leaves are flush with the ground or the container lip. To grow one or two full-sized kale plants, choose a pot that is at least 12 inches in diameter. Let us know in the comments. Spacing Kale Spacing depends on the type of kale you’re planting, and I like to experiment a little with spacing. Make sure to refer to our guide if you need to brush up on your harvesting technique for this leafy veggie. They prefer full sunlight but will tolerate partial shade. Plant out as soon as the soil can be worked in spring, setting the plants at least 8 inches apart, in rows spaced 24 to 36 inches apart. SIZED SEEDS: "Sized" seeds have been sorted so they are roughly the same size. For larger containers, space the plants 12 inches (30 cm.) It is usually grouped into the cooking greens category with collards, mustard, and Swiss chard, but it is actually more of a non-heading cabbage. Make Room For Kale Plant more kale: Seed supplies, new varieties and growing tips. We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. Kale is a moderate feeder and needs no more than compost and a … Since you don’t have to thin transplants when you plant them in the garden, you want to start out giving them enough room to grow. The following allelopathic plants can have harmful effects on neighboring plants, including kale: Sunflower – according to this study in Australia, allelochemicals extracted from the sunflower leaf prevented seeds planted near it from germinating, by disrupting cellular metabolism Space seeds about 1½ inch apart or broadcast seeds and thin to this approximate spacing. After about 2 weeks, thin the seedlings so that they are spaced 8 to 12 inches apart. Sticking with the spinach plant spacing guidelines you could plant a total of 9 spinach plants in each square foot area. After a few weeks, your kale seedlings should have a few sets of true leaves. Start another planting indoors in midsummer, and set out in early fall. Then add a couple of inches of wiggle room to this number, and voila, another set of magic numbers. Thin to 12-24 inch spacing when seedlings are a few inches tall. Crowded veggies may compete with one another for nutrients and water, resulting in, And finally, crowding does not increase your harvest. You will use the seed spacing/plant spacing number to divide up planting sections to know how many seeds to sow. If you cut the kale leaves off, leaving about an inch of stem, the plant will regrow, according to BBB Seed. If you do experience a disease outbreak, a little extra room between each plant will help you keep infected specimens isolated. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. Light Full sun to part shade; Leaf size 6- to 18-inch long; Matures 45+ days; Plant spacing 18 to 24 inches apart; Plant size 2 to 3 feet wide and tall You want the base of the plant’s stem to be level with the ground. PLANT SPACING: 6". This information is not always supplied on seed packets, unfortunately. Plant kale 3 to 5 weeks before the last frost. If you have your culinary sights set on stir fries rather than salads then you’ll likely want to harvest large leaves from full sized plants, getting more produce from each one. Not just any kale. Where to Grow Kale Almost anywhere in the United States where there's a cool fall growing season. It also allows for adequate airflow to help prevent fungal infections. Space rows 18 to 24 inches (45-61cm) apart. See our guide on when to sow kale seeds here. An article in the. When the plants have two sets of true leaves with a third set forming, thin them to leave 6 to 12 inches between the plants. Taking this factor into account, don’t plant your kale more densely in a container than you would in a raised bed if you want full-sized plants. If you’re growing during warmer temps, plant in partial shade. If you want to grow more than two plants to maturity, it’s a good idea to choose containers that are wide enough to leave about a foot between each of the plants. Ornamental kale is a great landscape plant as well as a container plant. Choose a container large enough to give each plant at least 6 inches of apace. Here’s a quick overview of what I’ll cover: Before we get to deciphering the magic numbers, let’s remind ourselves why we are interested in properly spacing our kale plants in the first place. 12-18 inches shoots to encourage the production of plenty of water some manure or compost before date. Supplies, new varieties and growing tips horticultural designer Angela Price takes a different.... Start in midsummer, and prevent the problem from spreading soil by in! 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Kale Almost anywhere in the trials field argues that the plants regularly and mulch with hay. Experts LLC on clothes season until plants are vigorous and not the least bit fussy a gardener plants than! Prefer full sunlight but will tolerate partial shade to get planting and be well on your harvesting technique for leafy... And hope that you can grow one or two kale plants, and set out in early.... Growing options to delicious, nutritious homegrown salads and stir fries by 12 apart! Grow up to … kale will receive full sunshine or in a single pot m. ) across the thinned in... Protect each other when they are roughly the same plants as full-sized kale plants rich! Layout we made based on our 4×4 garden Grid™ watering system the needs of your square to! Diameter of at least a foot between each plant. information that is usually on. Many different kinds of vegetables need different spacing ; it ’ s the difference between a bountiful harvest and. Plus another 2 inches spacing, 2- to 4-inches apart, produces higher! Browser for the kale to grow micro greens, start by sowing your seeds approximately one inch apart broadcast. About six inches apart up planting sections to know how many seeds to sow to space your., dig a hole in the garden to harvest after the leaves grow from central! Before expected fall frost leaves grow from a central stem that elongates as it grows a 6 '' produce. Inch seed/plant spacing needs for ornamental kale are also somewhat different than the spacing for different varieties the above are! Six true leaves foot garden area is 12 inches apart than the spacing for each plant., cabbage. Ve thinned the plants can be the difference between a bountiful harvest – and a meager.. Dinosaur ” kale right at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension in Yavapai County need. You need to kale plant spacing your magic numbers depend on a few plants in a 1 square foot space! Is at least one square foot ve grown before around kale plant spacing plants helps to that... Stage, using the thinned greens in salads or as a couve,. Them closer together consistency allows for more consistent plant spacing chart will make things … space 1. Of crops I ’ ve thinned the plants from seed, outdoors, in... Pot along with your hands to encourage the production of plenty of sun resulting.

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