Do You Plant Kale From Seeds or Plants?

Kale is a cold-hardy, healthy vegetable and decorative plant.

Kale is a nutritious green vegetable and a decorative winter landscaping plant. The vegetable is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins K, A and C and fiber and omega fatty acids. The ornamental is a colorful, cold-tolerant border annual, planted in fall to bloom until winter freezes. Kale is generally started from seed but may be transplanted successfully.

Spring Planting

Sow kale in the garden in spring once the ground is unfrozen. The seeds tolerate frost and actually do better in cold weather than in the heat of summer. Plant seeds in well-composted soil in shallow rows, ¼ to ½ inch deep and 1 inch apart. Leave 18 to 30 inches between rows. Once the seedlings appear, thin them so the plants are about 8 to 12 inches apart so they have room to fill out; kale is a bushy plant. Keep the ground moist and the seeds will germinate easily. Once the plants are growing sturdily, layer mulch around them to hold in moisture, inhibit weeds and protect the plants from frost.

Fall Planting

For ornamental winter kale plants, sow seeds three months ahead. That means plant in June for a September harvest, or three months before the first frost in your growing zone. Kale in the vegetable garden will survive just fine into the chilly fall months and can be clipped for salads and other recipes as needed. Cold spells increase the sweetness of the leaves. They should be eaten as soon as harvested but may be washed and stored in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Plug Plants

Kale may be planted in a garden using seedling pots from nurseries, although its easy germination and adaptability to cold weather make it inexpensive and practical to grow from seed. Southern gardeners often prefer seedlings grown by northern commercial producers in order to avoid the stress of warm soil and hot temperatures on the cold-loving plants. If young plants are purchased to transplant to the garden, subtract about 14 days from the time it would take to harvest the plants when grown from seed. Ornamental kale plants are purchased fully grown and transplanted to landscaped borders and flowerbeds in early fall. They will last until the temperatures hit 20 degrees or lower.

Companion Plants

Kale welcomes planting with companions that protect it from common pests and increase crop yields. Marigolds and onions, for instance, repel aphids. Hyssop, rosemary and tomato inhibit cabbage moths. Garlic, radishes and sage protect against cabbage maggots, and thyme and tomato discourage cabbage worms. Plug plants can be put in the garden later in the season so they can grow along with the warm temperature companion plants. Seedlings started in an indoor garden can be transplanted outdoors once all frost danger is past and benefit from companions, too. Companion plants for kale are bush beans, celery, beets, lettuce, onion, potato, marigold, dill, mint, sage, tomatoes, thyme, garlic, basil, parsley, rosemary, hyssop, radishes and sunflowers.

References

• USA Gardener; How to Grow Kale
• Mother Nature Network; How to Grow Kale; Stephanie Rogers; October 18, 2010
• U Mass Extension; Flowering Cabbage and Kale; Robert Luczai
• Gardens Ablaze; Companion Plants for Better Yields