Growing Kale from Sowing to Harvest

[@gaeangardensbyizabela]

I've had green kale in the garden for years, self seeding and growing abundantly. I didn't eat a lot of it but now my heart needs more kale and it's here! It's like kale was waiting patiently when I'm ready to take care of my health. This year I'm adding 4 more varieties: russian, scarlet, dinosaur and rainbow. I want to grow it everywhere, it's so tasty

[@GrowVeg]

What a great variety of kales - lovely!

[@yesyoga]

I grew some kale this year for the first time with much hesitation, because I don’t really care for it. Surprise! The dinosaur kale I grew is delicious, and is now my favorite vegetable. More kale in my future.

[@GrowVeg]

That's great that's it's now you favourite - great stuff!

[@AnneGoggansQHHT]

I suggest red Russian/ragged jack

[@AnneGoggansQHHT]

Try ragged jack kale from baker creek. It’s beautiful and delicious too

[@psakemon]

Red Russian is a go-to. Salads for work-day lunch, replaces main greens and can be mixed with any other vegetables. Morning eggs and wilted kale make for a delicious breakfast. I've never made a smoothie, never had to. Kale replaced iceberg, romaine... now i'm addicted.

[@randy7879]

+poodeelah Totally the traditional iceberg lettuce salads are weak Red Russian Kale is awesome i toss it in with my eggs and potato breakfasts on the weekends.

[@thomaslucas7414]

We blanch and freeze 50-60 pounds to eat over the winder. Makes fantastic addition or base for stir frys and thickens soups and stews.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Awesome! I want to start trying that as well as fermenting! What we do with the excess is Kale chips (yum!) and recently, we've been dehydrating it to make a greens powder. Very very handy.

[@cek7940]

The ripe tomato farms...how do you ferment kale?

[@teevee3673]

I did my first garden this year (50sqft raised bed) I planted 4 kale that I bought at a nursery. They are still doing amazing and its almsot August. We love kale chips , in our salad and the chickens LOVE it as a treat !

[@GrowVeg]

Your chickens are very lucky ladies! :-)

[@ronafictional402]

I sewed kale seeds about 2 weeks ago, early August. Looking forward to seeing how this gets on as a winter veg.

[@gloriatwiggs467]

I live in sloth Louisiana, USA. My kale has grown for a year aand tends to get bitter in the summer months. We do not mind as when cooked, I just add a small teaspon of honey to the water. When we are tired of Kale, I freeze it and also feed the center of the leaves to the chickens. They love it and give wonderful eggs.

[@carlhamke7116]

Here in Idaho, USA, we grow kale and other brassicas under hoop houses overlayed with floating row covers. This deters aphids, cabbage butterflies, and hungry California quail chicks. For slugs we pick them off, set out traps, do not use mulches, and if that is not enough, apply slug bait. The plants frequently overwinter, providing early greens. The row covers are the key to a good harvest for us, especially in controlling aphid infestations. We start seed indoors in early February and transplant mid March. We freeze kale, after steaming for 3 minutes and blanching, or make kale chips, flavoured for snacks or plain to crumble into soups or backpacking meals. Kale gets bitter in the hot summers we have, tastes best fresh when stirfried by first sauteing garlic. Also good with lettuce in salads, or smoothies. After frosts and in the spring it is sweeter.

[@GrowVeg]

Love kale chips!

[@cek7940]

I made kale chips for my hubs this year with taco seasoning and hot pepper flakes, they were a huge success!

[@SD-co9xe]

It is very heat/sun tolerant as well. I live in a high heat/sun area and it is a champ.

[@GrowVeg]

I hadn't thought it would be very heat tolerant - but that's great to hear. It really is a resilient plant!

[@gailthornbury291]

At the end of the season I eat the shoots which are good used like sprouting broccoli especially in stir fry or bean soups!!! A last use of the plant before the chickens get whatever is left.

[@loadapish]

I live in a flat. I have 20 kale plants in pots. They were started in eggshells filled with coco and now potted in compost. I took loads of notes and need to find outdoor homes for them all.

[@loadapish]

@SanjTD i put some rabbit shit in with the soil and for dome reason the soil started groing this white fuzz. I ended up throwing most of them away. I only found an outdoor home for 4 of them and they actually done alright. I fed them to the rabbits in the end

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

We're growing dinosaur Kale and Scarlet Kale! We love sautéed kale with shallots, garlic and cherry tomatoes in a breakfast wrap. We eat it steamed with butter and salt. Kale chips! And our favorite- in soups!!! Love your videos! Thank you!

[@GrowVeg]

Kale is simply amazing. I wouldn't be without it.

[@dougyshl]

Best kale video, informative and to the point! Thank you!

[@8oclocktomatotalk]

Finally, getting some kale worked back in my garden( direct seeded in zone 6B S/E in Indiana) Thanks for the detailed info here :-) going to show an update of my progress on my little channel coming up soon!

[@GrowVeg]

Hope your garden is progressing beautifully. :-)

[@8oclocktomatotalk]

@@GrowVeg thanks and yours as well!

[@Keksdich]

Thank you for another great video :) Here in the north of Germany, we grow cale traditionally as a winter crop . If planted in fall, you will have less problems with pests. Cale is a beautiful plant and tastes great in stews. Also, come spring, I love to eat the flowers, raw, in salads --> they taste quite sweet :D Happy gardening, everyone ! :)

[@lukejones1244]

That must be what I did wrong. I tried growing them in Spring and every time they got destroyed quickly by pests.

[@Keksdich]

@@lukejones1244 :D yes, the same happened to me, thats why I sow them in summer now and plant them in autumn. They still might get some pests, but it is much more managable than planting them in spring.

[@Pickhandle]

@@lukejones1244 I sowed my seeds in March (South West England). Transplanted in April and into the ground in May. They are under good netting and are growing beautifully. No pests at all, and I often just stand and admire them! All my brassicas are there (Calabrese, Chou, Purple Sprouting, Curly Kale, and Nero Kale) - 4 plants of each for the two of us. Exciting!

[@chrisrahner4067]

hi Keksdich: would you sow now in August, and straight outside or in a greenhouse?

[@Keksdich]

@@chrisrahner4067 me, I sow them during summer in pots in the greenhouse and plant them out when they are strong enough to withstand the winds we have here. But , please do try sowing them both ways and see what works for you :D all gardens are different and yor climate is surely different from mine : ) happy gardening :D

[@tennesseenana4838]

I planted Kale for the first-time last fall and only got to pick it one time. Deer also like to eat kale and found my patch of it. From now on I'll use the fabric Tulle to cover it from them as well as others who enjoy using/eating it. I saw that I have tiny sprouts of it in my winter sowing container so will try it again this spring and also start more seeds for this fall.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, the tulle will certainly help protect your kale. Better luck this season I hope.

[@Runningtorchbearer]

yes tried Kale hope to grow more for winter, first time gardiner

[@LukasLife01]

Planted my first ever Kale this year, and ive had a amazing germination rate, not sure when ill be harvesting but i cant wait

[@GrowVeg]

You’re well on the way. 😀

[@darrenjray]

About to harvest mine right now. I love your videos. You're a winner.

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers mate!

[@657449]

I planted some Red Russian Kale last year and didn't expect it to survive the winter. The winter was mild and a few plants survived and grew. They quickly went to flowering so the bees have a food supply. I got about two cups of leaves.

[@ArcturanMegadonkey]

just bought some seeds today, they're going in holes cut through weed fabric on a 1ft layer of compost then netted.

[@jeancottel742]

Here in Western Oregon, kale, arugula and chard generally produce all winter with dino kale being the best. Soups, stews, pasta -- kale is good in everything.

[@jeancottel742]

@Felix Felix Lacinato is my favorite and it can grow very large.

[@jeancottel742]

@Felix Felix Non, mais je suis Canadienne Anglaise.

[@daisygurl3601]

I still have kale in the garden from last fall's planting. It really does keep on giving. New seeds will be planted closer to September, as it is too hot here to grow this time of year. I've had good results with Vates kale and Red Russian. I eat it raw in my daily salad, but I have made baked chips with success. Happy growing!

[@samatronn]

yesss I'm super excited to grow kale this year!

[@tonyngiuyen9909]

Really enjoy all your videos and great tips too,keep it up mate 👍

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much, and will do! :-)

[@DeborahChapin]

I overwinter my kale and then I set it out to bulk up and I have a lot of problems of slugs so I’m putting gravel around the base with some copper. And I have these kind of sticks but I’ve discovered that I can trim that back and leaves will start to come back out at the base and even get a second stem so they are very hearty they can be a year-round crop if you bring them in and they do pretty well even in the winter but they don’t grow as fast because there’s not as much light. But I have it for salads and soups

[@GrowVeg]

It's a super crop it really is. :-)

[@bitcoinbeast]

Cheers, love Kale

[@elcisne09]

Thanks for this informative video. Growing Kale for the first time this year. My seedlings are a few inches tall at this point and I have them under lights and they look pretty good. Can't wait for them to develop enough to put them outdoors.

[@jwvautard]

Another great and informative video! I haven't planted kale in a couple of years because the dreaded cabbage moth and the resulting larvae decimated my kale two years in a row. As you said and as several folks in a Facebook gardening group also posted, later in the season, especially after a frost, pests are much less of a problem. So, I had planned to plant some kale this fall, but I think I will go ahead and start some now to fill in spots in my garden when I harvest other things, and I will put it under a floating cover to keep the hateful cabbage moths off of it. Sadly, here in the U.S., as elsewhere, kale is considered a superfood, but it is also on the "Dirty Dozen" list of foods that are most easily contaminated by pesticides, which many, if not most, commercial farms use pesticides to increase their harvests. So, growing it myself, naturally and without pesticides, if not "officially" organically, will allow me to eat it freely for its many nutritional benefits without concern about health concerns about how its grown.

[@GrowVeg]

Growing it yourself certainly avoids any worries about pesticide residue. It's a great crop to grow because it's relatively prolific and has so many uses. I use loads of it in smoothies to get my greens in!

[@Rinsuki]

You can use BT for the cabbage moth. It is a natural pesticide specifically targeting them.

[@lilfooX2]

Great Video- seems I've been planting these at the wrong time! We like to dixe kale and freeze it for smoothies, soups, and stir fry - we use it in salads and we LOVE making crispy kale chips in the oven with a little olive oil and vegitable salt 😋

[@GrowVeg]

LOVE kale chips!

[@ruthapter2209]

Here in the Pacific Northwest - Washington State overwintering kale works great. In the spring we look forward to harvesting the unopened buds which we call kale Raab. Like tiny broccoli but even more tender and sweet. Great fresh or stir fried. We live a few of the plants to produce seeds for the next sowing.

[@GrowVeg]

Kale trees - you have seen perennial kale perhaps? There are some great perennial varieties of kale that crop for most of the year. Popular in Victorian-era gardens, they can grow up to 7ft tall.

[@GrowVeg]

Not sure how to help with that - it could be worth hunting it out online. It's worth growing if you can find it.

[@williammcduff6531]

Interesting video we have a big problem with those white butterflies so we use the row covers for the cabbage family crops. Well worth the effort also use them for our swiss chard to deter leaf miners.

[@GrowVeg]

Leaf miners and cabbage white butterflies are the biggest nuisances in my garden.

[@neighborhoodpreparedness5862]

Growing Kale for first time in Wyoming. Will freeze, use daily for green smoothies so need to find out how much plants produce. Want to also try in cold frame. Love the channel... great job on videos. Suggestion - Would love information useful to these needs: freezing/preserving, how much plants typically produce, if they produce continually and when you can start using fruit, what size pots to grow in when container gardening. Thanks!

[@GrowVeg]

Hi there. Thanks for the suggestions. Do check out some of our other videos which will be able to offer some answers to a few of these. With regards how much kale produces - a fully grown plant can give several leaves a week in the peak of the growing season, or perhaps one or two a week in the winter months - but that's very approximate, and I imagine in Wyoming in winter there wouldn't be much, if any growth. Certainly freezing for smoothies seems like a sensible idea.

[@AnneGoggansQHHT]

Better yet, when it flowers, SAVE THE SEEDS

[@ncjeffhyder]

I have heard you can also cut off the top of the plant after you harvest the seeds and root it in sand for the next growing season.

[@laceyblue4892]

Going to be setting up a hydroponic grow with spinach kale and peas. I sure hope it works out, as I am tired of eating pesticides and buying spinach in giant plastic containers. Eco friendly eating habits are always the way to go❤️

[@catherinecooper2360]

I plan on growing lacinato kale and will dehydrate it for all-winter use.

[@edithlueke1081]

My kale reseeds itself from the fall flowers, and I just thin it out in the spring, when it returns.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Growing Kale by volunteers is both smart and awesome!

[@Haze1434]

Thank you for another nice video :) I'm growing just 3 kale plants in my new patch this year; more of an experimental year in a new garden, to see what will grow well. The kale is off to an excellent start though, all 3 are growing fast and well! I've put an insect netting tunnel over our brassicas this year though, including the kale, as we seem to have a cabbage white problem around here! It has the added bonus of keeping most of the weed seeds off half the bed, too.

[@cek7940]

We have a huge problem in ne Ohio with the white moth and her green worms also. I lost almost all my brassicas last season and purchased a row cover to try this year, here's to a great growing season. I'm also going to join in the report a big program... we've got to outsmart those bugs :)

[@edwarm02]

Thanks for another very informative video! Here in the Colorado Rocky Mountains Kale is one of our go-to veggies! It can take our temperamental weather. (it's almost June and we just had 4 inches of snow!)

[@InquiringMindsKnow]

Hello - can you please tell me if you have to cover your Kale to protect from the snow storms?

[@bewoodford2807]

I love black kale, but I find pigeons and caterpillars absolutely love their tasty tender leaves. Also , where i live, in Wiltshire, in a frost [pocket, i find it isn't that hardy and i lost the whole crop this winter (2022/2023). I did however sow and grow kalettes which have proven very hardy and have cropped profusely from just 6 plants. This was the first time i've ever grown them, so hope it wasn't just beginner's luck, ha ha. I will definitely grow them again this year. Would the curly kales prove more hardy in my location do you think, and if so are some varieties more tender tahn others? Thank you for your help :-)

[@GrowVeg]

I'm not too far away from you and have had similar experiences with the Black Tuscan kale. You just have to keep it covered so butterflies and pigeons can't get at it. This is the only variety I like to grow, so can't comment on the curly kale types, but definitely worth a try. My hunch is the leaves would be less appealing to pigeons - but don't quote me on that!

[@kelasdabay2801]

It grows perfectly in Bengkulu. I live in coastal area where the temperature is mostly 30 C everyday.

[@GrowVeg]

That's interesting to know - that's very warm but they still thrive.

[@JosephE-yd6ks]

👌excellent video. Clear and succinct

[@culdesacgrocerygarden]

Red Ursa kale grew through November here in Kansas City last year clear up until a terrible winter storm killed it. This year I started Red Russian and Dinosaur Kale from seed. It was the only brassica that survived an overnight attack by squirrels about 5 days after planting. Now I have hoops with bird netting over the bed. They are growing slowly due to very strange violent weather swings but are survivors. This year I plan on using double cover over the beds to keep it growing throughout the winter. I use it in salad, sautéed with caramelized onions and mixed with scrambled eggs for delicious breakfast burritos. It keeps well chopped in the freezer and is good in smoothies. Can you tell I love kale?

[@GrowVeg]

Absolutely! I love it smoothies too.

[@glenncasey1102]

I grow cavalo nero for a few restaurants, the chefs are mad for it. Any tips on growing it faster? Keep up the good videos always informative 👍

[@GrowVeg]

No more tips for growing it faster other than watering it in dry weather, keeping those pesky pests off, and growing it in good, fertile soil. It will crop more often if it is growing in the sun - particularly helpful later/earlier on in the growing season.

[@helenmcclellan452]

I plan to grow red kale in 2022.

[@InquiringMindsKnow]

Great video! Your Kale is amazing. I am planning on sowing dinosaur Kale for the first time. We get about 10 days of snow/hail per year and several months of frost. It is now almost March and this seems too early, so here is my question: Can I start them from seeds now indoors and then move them outside, and at what point can I move them outside? Thank you

[@GrowVeg]

It depends on where you are. Here in the south of the UK I would delay sowing for perhaps another month - waiting till the end of March/early April to sow. You could also make a sowing in early summer, for overwintering.

[@mywoolmitten]

Very nice video with good tips! Thank you

[@akinmotayo7711]

I have clay soil will male grow on it. I am just starting gardening.

[@ineedstuff8286]

clay soil is not good... your going to have to make your own soil... it's just easier. A great option is to build a simple raised bed... 4 boards screwed together into a box... you put cardboard on ground, set wood bed on that (to stop grass from growing into it... then fill with a homemade soil. I used 1-part peatmoss, 1-part Vermiculite, and 1-part mushroom-compost (which i bought from local hardware store). plan for about 8 inches deep of a bed for things like Kale, Broccoli, Spinach, etc. It's easier too, to buy a book like "Square Foot Gardening"... by Mel Bartholomew. That style of gardening is generally, thee most practical method. Least work, least amount of materials, etc. An engineer designed it, so you know it's meant for lowest amount of work/material/cost. let me know if you have questions... as last year was my first time gardening... and i absolutely knew 100% nothing. COMPLETE beginner, and I had success except my broccoli was late to plant... Much love

[@the-magnusson-barakats5250]

I love kale too! Was growing it and the butterflies came and laid all their eggs. Came back from holiday to kale sceletons and fat little larvae. Is there a point in keeping it or should I just cut it and remove it?

[@GrowVeg]

You may find that if we get a decent frost soon, it will kill off the larvae or whatever else is there and then allow kale to grow off unhindered. I suspect it will recover once the bugs are done.

[@nenemaria-cornfieldsgarden]

My summer planted kale got decimated by caterpillars, grew back then got hit again in sept/October! There were even caterpillars on there right through to November which i was surprised about so I'd just left them for dead in their containers. Surprisingly, they started filling in again and came back in spring before bolting. They're incredibly hardy! This year I'm going to net them and see if I can actually get a harvest for myself rather than just feeding the bugs .

[@lukejones1244]

You're absolutely right. Kale is very difficult' gets destroyed quickly. We need more honesty, rather than claiming its so easy to grow!

[@jwvautard]

You might try Been oil spray on the plants when the buddies/mouths that leave their eggs on kale are active. It's an organic solution.

[@lukejones1244]

@@jwvautard The oil from which bean, please? Thanks. (I've heard you can make a rhubarb leaf tea for pests, but haven't tried it yet.)

[@nenemaria-cornfieldsgarden]

@@jwvautard Thank you. Do you mean Neem oil? I've yet to try it but heard it works well for pests! Not head of been oil so wasn't sure if it was a misspelling.

[@jwvautard]

@@nenemaria-cornfieldsgarden Sorry. Yes, I meant Neem oil. My cell phone often auto corrects me. You'd think I would learn to double and triple check before pressing REPLY, but, alas, I usually don't.

[@markhoverd4993]

In one of my gardening books it says to take the central leaves first to encourage side shoots?? I'm growing the tall Nero toscana variety but I've always taken leaves from the bottom like in your video

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, I guess you could do that. I find it easier just to grow it as it is, taking leaves from the bottom - there's always plenty of them!

[@Testing329]

Gloria a ti,señor,por todo/ Viva Christo Rey

[@tenz07]

Hi there, I'm new to gardening and I feel watching your videos and others like yours have helped me understand how gardening works. Very informative and gsrdeninb for me has become very therapeutic. I have stsrted growing kale and its starting to look pretty good but the stems are still quite thing.. Will this change over time and what can I do to increase its healthy growth. I've been using chicken manure pellets and am just waiting for the soil to become more enriched

[@GrowVeg]

Hi Rachid. Yes, kale does start out a bit thin-stemmed, but they should thicken out and get sturdier with time. Ensuring good light levels and adequate nutrition - as it seems like you're doing - will stop them getting too floppy and weak.

[@Laura_B__]

I live in Ontario and I can't grow kale throughout the winter - it will die in -25 C temperatures. Although it might survive in a greenhouse or cold frame, I'm not sure. Here we plant kale in the early spring and harvest all summer long. It will survive until about Christmastime, which is when the weather really gets cold. I've had great success growing kale for the most part, but the past few years all of my kale, cabbage, mustard greens and turnips were virtually destroyed by flea beetles as soon as they came up. Using the white cloth stuff didn't protect the plants. This year I only planted one variety of kale, and I have a feeling the same thing will happen. I planted a lot of chard instead, and I will use that for greens, because it always does really well for me and doesn't seem to have as many insect pests.

[@jwvautard]

If you planted the kale in the same spot each time, crop rotation may solve your problems. Some pests will begin to reproduce in the soil where their favorite plants are commonly grown. Growing them in a different spot each year can keep your crop one step ahead of the pests that love to consume it.

[@GrowVeg]

If you do use row covers again, make sure it is fully secured at the ground - buried into it - to keep it 'air tight' so no flea beetles can sneak in at ground level.

[@khornby1696]

I planted kale, red cabbage and green cabbage in the south west-facing polytunnel in October. It has hardly grown. I live in southern France. Clay soil but enriched with lots of pine wood-chips to improve soil structure so I wonder if soil now too acid. Any advice please to make it actually grow? Hardiness zone 8A Thank you

[@GrowVeg]

Soil acidity could be an issue. Maybe do a pH test and check. Adding lime or wood ash would help to bring the pH down, which all brassicas prefer.

[@josephcroft4268]

i live in south Wales UK is it worth me sowing seeds in September indoors to plant out in November

[@GrowVeg]

Hi Joseph. To be honest I think you're too late now. It's not just the warmth but the poor light levels from now on that don't really make it worth sowing. Best to wait until spring.

[@justjoanie8068]

Cpuld you have collected seeds from those yellow flowers? Could the kale have grown the next year also?

[@GrowVeg]

The kale would decline after flowering and setting seed. I could save some of the seeds, but there's a high likelihood of cross-pollination with other brassicas, so to be sure of getting kale I always sow bought seeds. The seed is very cheap, with loads of them, and they last a few years, so it makes sense to do this.

[@lornapenn-chester6867]

Hi Ben 👋 Do you think it’s too late to grow from seed now? Zone 9a. Would you still sow in a seed tray but leave it outside or in place (pots on the balcony!)?

[@GrowVeg]

You could try sowing now, for sure. You could try sowing it into a seed tray or direct, so long as the potting mix is nice and crumbly.

[@lornapenn-chester6867]

@@GrowVeg Thank you!

[@PickledPoacher]

Do you find more pests after feeding chicken manure pellets? We use soluble kelp meal and Humic acid. This seemed to produce good plants with less pests overall

[@GrowVeg]

I haven't noticed more pests after using chicken manure pellets, no.

[@francesbatycki404]

Does kale need space for deep roots? You may have said and I missed it. I’m growing kale for the first time this year.

[@GrowVeg]

It isn’t very deep rooted. Sort of average I’d say. At least 8in (20cm) of decent soil would be about right.

[@francesbatycki404]

Another thank you! 👍👍🇨🇦👍🇨🇦❤️

[@hollyzinda]

I accidentally overcrowded the seedling starter pods. There are 10 sprouts in each little square. Is there any saving this?

[@GrowVeg]

I would thin them out to leave the strongest, sturdiest seedling in each plug. If you leave all 10 to grow then none of them will thrive.

[@francesbatycki404]

Added question. Sorry. I’m also growing some Chinese cabbage about which I know nothing. Can I put it near or in with the kale?

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, it will be absolutely fine to put it near the kale. They are both brassicas and appreciate similar conditions.

[@francesbatycki404]

Thank you.

[@debfrenes]

Ready to harvest! If the kale has some of the white stuff, that those still be eaten? Do you just cut that part of or wash it off?

[@GrowVeg]

The whitish stuff could either be some sold of fungus/mould, or the deposits of something like whitefly. Either way, I'd be inclined just to cut that part off then eat the rest having washed thoroughly.

[@chrisrahner4067]

hi, would be very grateful for advice: could I still sow Kale (cavalo nero) now in August (Norfolk coastal climate, no ground frosts) or is it too late? I note someone in Germany wrote about planting out in autumn to avoid pests...

[@GrowVeg]

I think it' just too late now Chris, sorry. Best to sow earlier - from April to June.

[@justclaire8835]

How many plants would you advise planting - I’m planning now for next year

[@GrowVeg]

It does depend on how many there are in your family and how much you enjoy kale. But, assuming Black Tuscan/Cavolo Nero kale (my favourite!), and assuming there are two of you in your household who both enjoy kale, I would say between 10 to 15 plants should give regular harvests of leaves. If you really love them and want to include them in, say, morning smoothies, then perhaps as many as 25 plants.

[@annie-uw1xn]

Can the sowing happen outside, I dont have a lot of light inside

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, absolutely. You could sow outside (in closer rows to save space), thin out the seedlings and then transplant them to their final spacings once they have grown on a bit and space is freed up elsewhere.

[@ruthesbrand9452]

thanks for sharing

[@raisajari323]

Grew it last season but it did get eaten a lot by slugs. A possum has shown up this fall though so I am hoping they will start eating the slugs. We also had tonnes of raccoons so they should have also been eating them. I guess we have a lot of slugs.

[@GrowVeg]

Muntjac deer or pigeons (not sure which) appear to be eating my kale this winter!

[@theother9941]

If I am growing kale in soil that has been previously used for French beans, do I still need to add extra fertiliser?

[@GrowVeg]

It depends. If you have left the roots of the beans in the soil then they should have fixed some nitrogen from the air into the ground for you, which is great for your nitrogen-hungry kale. But the effects of this are usually exaggerated - they fix some nitrogen but not lot and lots, as most of it is used up by the plant itself as it produces the pods. So I would add some compost or other organic matter (and/or organic fertiliser) before planting your kale, to give it a good start.

[@theother9941]

Interesting. Thanks for replying :O)

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Like the man said, it really depends. Kale is a pretty undemanding plant in of itself, so if you're amending with compost anyways, and mulching heavily with organic matter (grass, leaves, etc), then no, you won't have to fertilize your kale at all.

[@eierinjhoi]

can kale be grown in tropical country like the Philippines?

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, kale can be grown in the Philippines.

[@coral1396]

lovely thank you!

[@Lindsey0611]

Can I grow kale now? (January) South of England. The high is 4 degrees Celsius and the low is 1 degrees Celsius. I feel like despite these temperatures it is quite sunny for part of the day. Also a little confused... why did you tell someone autumn was late to grow? I thought this was a hardy vegetable :O

[@GrowVeg]

It's too late to sow kale in autumn - and it's still too cold now. Wait until the spring to sow it. Kale is very hardy, but it won't start growing (or continue growing) until it gets a little warmer. But established plants will happily sit through very harsh frosts. So sow in spring for harvesting from late summer onwards into winter/the following spring.

[@Lindsey0611]

@@GrowVeg ohh you explained that very well. I will wait until Spring. Thank you!

[@ajaiyagrawal8193]

How to grow Ginger please tell from sowing to harvest

[@jwvautard]

I'd love to see ginger addressed, too, to know how to grow it to best advantage. I started some 3 years ago from a root I bought in the grocery store. It developed a green pointy end, so I planted it in a pot outside. (pointy, green sprout up). It did quite well and developed long, grass-like foliage. I've brought it indoors over the winters and bring it back outside in summers. This year, I transplanted it to a larger pot, and it appears to be doing well. However, I'd like to be sure it has the best growing environment to assure its continued health.

[@GrowVeg]

We may do a video on growing ginger one day, but for now, check out our article on growing ginger: www.growveg.com.au/guides/grow-your-own-curry-spices/

[@ShamsGhanim]

Can I grow it from seeds now in late winter?

[@GrowVeg]

Best to wait until later in spring to sow them.

[@dn744]

Very nice 👍

[@pattywaters9967]

Regarding weeds - any ideas on how to get rid of gout weed or field bindweed?

[@GrowVeg]

Check out our video on getting rid of tricky weeds: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qouUn3qBjpqmgsk

[@benjaminsonshine5713]

Kale 🥬 yummy

[@WildBoarChannel]

Great video

[@sherei9530]

I planted dwarf kale and have not idea when or how to harvest. Seems different from other varieties. Help!

[@GrowVeg]

Kale grown for salad leaves - like the Red Russian kale - are harvested young like other cut-and-come-again salad leaves - so maybe around 10-20cm (4-8in) tall. Just take the outside leaves and let those in the middle continue to grow for the next cut.

[@LisaMay_HomeAndAway]

Can I grow kale and onion together?

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, so long as you pay attention to their individual spacing requirements.

[@mrs8792]

A coworker gave me a beautiful variegated kale plant, it grows from root, not seed. I’ve never heard of this variety. It is sweet and I use it in place of lettuce. It is by far my favorite veg in the garden. I think this is the Cosmic kale?

[@GrowVeg]

I haven't come across that variety before. But looking online 'Kosmic Kale' matches your description. I'll have to seek it out!

[@jeepmommy2010]

My kale seeds under grow lights are getting laggy

[@GrowVeg]

It may be that the light simply isn't strong enough, or perhaps they are growing too close together?

[@ninacardinale8740]

(UK) Planted my kale in March direct in a raised bed. It already looks big enough to eat (and like I would buy it in the shops) but everywhere I am reading harvesting in Oct/Nov.. It is going to be totally enormous by then.. Can I pick some now, will it keep growing like lettuce leaves?, or is that not advised? Thanks

[@GrowVeg]

Yes Nine - pick some now and just keep on picking, making sure you always pick from the outside/bottom of the plant to leave the central rosette of leaves to carry on growing the next lot of leaves. Best to pick little and often when it comes to kale.

[@PetalsonthePavingSlabs]

useful guide this, thank you.

[@jennettebrought3281]

How does it go in pots? I love to add it to my juice or make Kale chips? Is the purple variety good to consume?

[@GrowVeg]

It can grow in pots. Aim for a minimum width of container of around 18in/45cm, planting up to four in a container that size. The strap-leaved 'Black Tuscan' or 'Cavolo Nero' variety is best - and generally the best (in my opinion) all-rounder. The purple varieties are pretty but tend to lose their colour on steaming/cooking. You can cut them up finely into salad though - great with a lemon dressing to soften the leaves somewhat.

[@banzy3]

I like the Jersey walking stick kale. It's a biannual, but if you remove the flowers it keeps on going. I'm going into my fourth year with the same plants. Unfortunately this year, I'm being hit with every pest - harlequin bugs (type of stink bug), woolly aphids, slugs and flea beetles.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yeah, I tried keeping them going by removing the flowers...its a neat trick! Still, 2 years with the amount that most Kale varieties produce...I feel that's enough! So I swap out the plants every 2nd year!

[@banzy3]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Kale's an easy one to grow, so it makes sense to just replant. I wanted to keep the walking stick variety going to see how high they'd go. They're about five foot, and the stems are very thick and woody now, not that I plan on making any walking sticks from them!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@banzy3 Is that how they got their name?? That is so cool man. I have Dino kale that gets ridiculously large....I need to branch out to more varieties! Right on man.

[@banzy3]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Yeah, apparently so. They're also called Jersey kale, because they used to grow them on the small island of Jersey for cattle fodder and use the stems to make walking sticks. It's good to eat too (not just for fodder!) . The dino one is cool - love the name, seems appropriate! One of my favourites is the White Russian - I've got lots of that going on for this winter.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@banzy3 Baby White Russian Kale in a spring salad mix is the best! Thanks for the info....I will definitely look into more seeds for this spring! I do have a 400 sq ft greenhouse though.....so maybe a crazy winter kale extravaganza isn't out of the question?! LOL

[@marilynnskulski2744]

I grow it for my giant rabbit lol never eaten it soo I must this winter

[@watermelonlalala]

Oops, I thought I could plant in November. I've got a bunch of sprouted seeds. I guess I won't lavish too much time and effort on the little fellows.

[@GrowVeg]

It could be worth planting them. If your autumn is as mild as it is where I am, they could still put on some growth.

[@watermelonlalala]

@@GrowVeg Yes, I'm going to plant and hope for a mild winter. Might set up a covered row, never did that before, but it would be a good thing to have.

[@myrustygarden]

Sautéed with garlic basil and olive oil mmmmmm

[@lukejones1244]

I've found kale to be the most difficult of the Brassicas to grow. It gets attacked and destroyed very quickly. I think mainly slugs, but could be something else. Or maybe I did it too early.

[@GrowVeg]

Sorry to hear you've had troubles with kale Luke. Slugs can decimate seedlings, which is why it's always good to start kale away from the final growing position to transplant once they're big enough to shake off the worst attacks.

[@lukejones1244]

@@GrowVeg Thanks for your sympathy. Yes, and I'll grow them in the Autumn rather than spring.

[@cheshirehomestead3574]

Do u put brassica collars on them?

[@GrowVeg]

I've never done that and haven't had any problems. Cabbage root fly tend not to affect kale.

[@stephaniewickens3706]

Can it grow in a container

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, you can grow three or four plants in a large-sized container - say around 45cm/18in diameter.

[@fantasorganicgardenbyaor9760]

ฉันชอบและหลงรักเคลมาก ชอบๆๆ

[@GrowVeg]

இது சுவையாக இருக்கும்

[@shey2444]

Kale chips are delicious and really easy. Otherwise I find Kale pretty inedible. Just add some oil to your Kale ( not too much) and scrunch with your hands. Remove the tough stalks beforehand. You can add salt, nutritional yeast, garlic powder if desired. Bake in oven at about Gas 4 for about 10 mins or so. They are crunchy and delicious. Really moreish. I easily polish off a whole bag of Kale in minutes. Great alternative to popcorn.

[@GrowVeg]

Love kale crisps - yum! :-)

[@q695]

You forgot to mention predator birds for insect control like house wrens, and blue birds

[@chularattv943]

สนใจปลูกเคลค่ะอยู่เมืองไทย

[@GrowVeg]

คะน้าเป็นผักที่ดีในการปลูก

[@chularattv943]

@@GrowVeg โคนเน่า โตช้า เป็นเพราะอะไร?

[@evangelinethompson1125]

Can we grow these on Philippines?

[@GrowVeg]

Yes absolutely - kale will grow in the Philippines.

[@evangelinethompson1125]

@@GrowVeg Thanks😄

[@yvonnee3265]

thank you for the video. i want to know if i can start growing kale this month. march . is it too cold to grow ?

[@GrowVeg]

It depends where you are. If you are in a temperate climate then you can start sowing it from about now, yes.

[@stephentomes2634]

My kale is struggling on the windowsill then seedlings are getting eaten directly sown ;-( gonna buy plugs shortly Everything is is fine.

[@lukejones1244]

Yes, exactly. I'm finding kale difficult.

[@atdpath5043]

Um. It's the end of May. Why did you send me this link now?

[@GrowVeg]

Assuming you're in the Northern Hemisphere, you can still make sowings towards the end of May to give plants ready to plant out late June/early July.