How to Grow Ornamental Kale Sunset
Ornamental kale is also called flowering cabbage and looks almost identical to traditional kale, but it develops loose flowers instead of a tightly formed head. The sunset variety of ornamental kale has a a bright red to purple-colored center which adds a bit of color to the landscape. Ornamental kale is a cool-season plant that is planted in the fall once summer temperatures moderate. They will persist through the winter until the temperatures begin to rise again in the spring. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Compost
- Garden tiller or pitchfork
- High-nitrogen fertilizer
- Shovel
- Water
- Pesticide (optional)
Instructions
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Wait until the early to mid-fall when the daytime temperatures drop to around 72 degrees Fahrenheit to plant the kale sunset. Look for a location that receives full sun and has dark-colored soil that drains well. Since they are short plants, they do best as border plants, or in front of other taller plants.
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Spread 6 inches of compost on top of the desired planting area and work it into the top 8 inches of the soil using a garden tiller. If you do not have a tiller, you can do the same task with a pitchfork, but the process takes much longer.
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Spread a granular fertilizer over the planting area that contains 10 to 16 percent nitrogen. Apply it at a rate of 1 lb. per 100 square feet of planting space. Remix the soil with the tiller or the pitchfork.
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4
Dig a hole that is the same depth as the kale sunset and two to three times as wide. Remove the kale from the pot and set the roots into the center of hole. Push dirt into the soil under the sides of the kale until the hole is completely filled. Plant additional kale plants 10 to 15 inches apart.
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Water the soil until it is saturated. After planting, water as often as needed to keep the soil constantly moist.
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Examine the plants regularly for brown, dead leaves and pull them off with your fingers to improve the appearance of the plant.
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Tips & Warnings
Watch for the development of aphids, which occurs if the temperatures rise above 80 F. If aphids appear, spray the kale with a pesticide to kill them.
