How To Grow Kale - The Definitive Guide

Kale! The ultimate "eat-your-greens" crop! Nutritious and delicious, this leafy Brassica is very hardy and very easy to grow. Much sweeter than its cousins (Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts), Kale is a far simpler crop to grow because we are only cultivating the leaves.
There's a zillion varieties to choose from and they are all pretty much grown the same way. In today's video, we'll take the journey from tiny Kale seed all the way to harvest, covering everything in between!
2022 is the Year of the Garden! We deserve it after the last little while, and growing our own food and self sufficiency is just the reward we need to get back on track!
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#kale #gardening #homestead

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

If you're just starting out gardening in 2022, please check out my Amazon Affiliate links below to get the right tools for the job! It doesn't cost you a cent, but this channel receives a small incentive for any items purchase through Amazon. Happy Gardening! Handy 12-piece Garden Tool Set!: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3jsNIyk Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YZhFwx Amazon UK: amzn.to/3qapNql Hand Pruners: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2YSIFxP Amazon USA: amzn.to/3q3Oftq Amazon UK: amzn.to/2YR3Xf8 Watering Can: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39U4nIc Amazon USA: amzn.to/3EiUNeF Amazon UK: amzn.to/3oX7hAa Spray Gun: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3aBxijm Amazon USA: amzn.to/3aL7UHS Amazon UK: amzn.to/3ruol1Z Gardening Gloves: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2Lt6ZDx Amazon USA: amzn.to/3tzJ32t Amazon UK: amzn.to/3jpf1cU

[@BLuvsDesigns]

I know this Video is over two years old, but I al happy i found this channel. I have been looking for some tips and trucks to grow my garden more. Just subbed

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey that's awesome, the info never gets old! Best of luck with your kale and other veggies! Thanks for the support! 🙂

[@johnjude2685]

I'm some to be putting seedlings in today hopefully. Thanks Jeff

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on John, best of luck! :-)

[@rise4329]

Thank you! Very informative and thorough!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@rise4329 no problem, glad you liked!

[@SeventhSamurai72]

Great video with very useful information. Thank you for your effort!🙏

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks, appreciate that! :-)

[@Donna_G]

I put kale seeds in my community garden bed. I didn't know that I should put started plants in instead. This is my first time growing kale and collards. My Bearded Dragon loves both types of greens. It will start warming up sometime in June or early July. Our hottest month is usually through the end of July to the end of August and sometimes into early September. Historically, we get our first frost at the end of September; but, last year it came later. All the seed packets that I have say to direct sow after the last frost. Historically, it happens around the middle of May; but, I think it might have been a week early this year.

[@zenaidacabrillas2236]

itsa very excelent to learnyour vedeos thanksso much

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Zenaida, thanks for watching! 🙂

[@ZE308AC]

He should do an experiment on growing African Blue Basil because it attracts more polinator to the yard. If you want better pollination plant natives plants to your area.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I agree, he should!

[@myrustygarden]

I noticed you don’t seem to have netting do you not cover your brassica plants. I’ve already seen cabbage whites 😱😭. Great video as I’m hoping to grow more winter brassicas. Have a great weekend Jeff 🐝 safe

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Good observation Ali! No, I don't have netting. I routinely make a sweep for the caterpillars, that's about it. :-)

[@special4076]

Jeff, Thank you for the great video and information on Kale. I also had the bi-annual explosion of flowers and let them produce seed. They self seed now just where I like them and are very abundant with minimal work. I even find small starts in the lawn areas. Thank you again for all of your informative videos.

[@sunnyshealthcoaching]

Hi Jeff, I love your videos and they have helped me a lot with my 1st garden! Thank you! I'm wondering what your background is? Your videos are easy to follow, you recap and explain everything well with a calm voice. Were you a school teacher? Just curious 🌞

[@staythecourse2927]

This was very informative, much appreciated! One newbie question: at 7:10 min. you show inserting small seedling into a larger pot (4" I believe). What type of soil is in that larger pot? Thanks!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey, thanks for watching. When I move on my small seedlings, I just use a regular organic potting mix. I do make my own though: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5DNq3xma7F-rNU

[@lalica3500]

thanks Jeff. In Italy we have only black cabbage (maybe toscano for you). We say hes folliage it's more tender and sweet if he take a frost, do the other cabbages have to take a cold too? For a fall harvest i will try to get some other cabbage seeds like russian kale, maybe from England. Happy Gardening

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

For sure, they all seem to get a little sweeter with a light frost! :-)

[@neerjarandhawa2273]

Hello there , I ab e a question about mulching. Can we mulch any plant / tree ? Is there a detailed video of yours about it ? Thanks

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yes, any plant can and should be mulched. You don't want to smother young fresh herbaceous plants, so be careful there, but all bare soil should be covered with a mulch! :-)

[@neerjarandhawa2273]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms great information thanks

[@aida087]

Hi Jeff and thank you for sharing, love your videos!! I love kale especially for smoothies!! I was lucky enough to be able to root several stem cuttings from store bought packaged kale and they're doing great in my Southeast-facing window!! But question... they've grown these long thin stems with very tiny buds at the ends that produced yellow flowers, should I be removing the entire stem or leave them be?v

[@LOVEnLIGHTWORKer]

Leave the flowers so you can have MORE KALE SEEDS TO PLANT!!!! you are an efficient kale gardener and can reproduce your own now and don't need to buy another seed or bunch again!!!! YAY!!!!

[@michaelatimciska4245]

One more question....I have my balcony garden so not a lot of space....what size container do you recommend for kale? And fabric or plastic?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Depends on the variety, but I would go minimum of 5 gallons for the best long-lasting plants. I prefer fabric, but both work! :-)

[@michaelatimciska4245]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms awesome. Got one handy. Thanks for the advice....wondering if you were ever thinking of doing anyrhung on hydroponics. For people like myself in condos, this may be worthwhile. Cheers.

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

Have kale regrowing. I might relocate it so it has more shade.

[@lynnbrewer6383]

You don’t save the seeds after flowering?

[@liberatedlioness6478]

Great and highly informative video. I live in the tropic and we never have cold or cool days. Maybe in December. But I want to plant now. Any other tips for warmer temperature?

[@thim.nguyen1250]

Hello, I would need your advice on how to grow hydroponics kale in winter indoors. Please advise where I can buy the seeds or can I grow the stems from plants purchased in grocery stores. Thank you very much.

[@melanieallen8980]

nice!!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Melanie!

[@TroyBrinson]

I love your videos. I have a question though if you have the answer. I live in zone five and surprisingly I follow most of your advice before I saw your video but I noticed that you don’t have nuts over your cabbage and kale. I have one bed with Napa kale and European cabbage.I put a hoop net over the bed. Is that a mistake? I thought that might be the best way to handle the cabbage moths which we seem to have a lot of here. Any thoughts?

[@A1lifestyle005]

Thank you, Prof. Jeff for this video. I bought two kale saplings (one is curly kale 🥬)after watching your last video on kale. 😁Glad I did that. Both of them are doing great. I covered them with the clear plastic dome to protect them from high wind 💨 here and they almost doubled in a weeks time. So, yes, your educational video are great inspiration to your followers. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and practical tips with us. Q. Should we use foliage plant feeds for the food plants 🪴? I am using plastic basket with holes to protect my delicate strawberries plants from the high wind and high heat and the plants responded greatly. Please do cover such tips for patio growers who may not know to prevent plants from environmental stress. Look forward to your next video. Much appreciation for your work. 🙏

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on santosh! Foliar feeding for kale isn't as successful as other plants because their leaves are so water resistant. I would advise against it. :-)

[@A1lifestyle005]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thank you for this information, Jeff.

[@donnathompson9828]

where do you get the straw mulch?

[@manleelam8091]

What is your thought on kale seed tapes? The plants come out quite dense, but my google search said that thinning is not needed? But is it right?

[@michaelatimciska4245]

Jeff....another great video....a question about the straw mulch. Do you take it off next year or put the paper on top of it? Also, I'm in a big city and just cannot find straw anywhere....are cedar chips ok? Or can you think of an alternative?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Michaela! As you can see in this video, I just planted right over top of it. It breaks down and just becomes organic matter in the soil. The only time I have to remove it is after winter where I've packed the bed with a foot of straw for protection (Garlic and Strawberries). :-)

[@michaelatimciska4245]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms thanks again Jeff. I've watched enough of your videos...should've got that one. Can you think of a alternative for straw mulch? Everyone is sold out of straw around here...

[@A1lifestyle005]

@@michaelatimciska4245 I bought grass for rabbits feed and am using it in place of straw. So far it’s working well for the strawberries and other plants.

[@michaelatimciska4245]

@@A1lifestyle005 great idea...will look into it. Thank .

[@dahutful]

Grab your favorite, “Bevy? “Man, that is totally Cray Cray. But wait, you’re in Canada. How is that zone nine? I’m in South Carolina and I’m zone eight. With zone nine down south below me. Is there another hardiness zone arrangement you are using? David

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

Not all countries growing zones are the same. Also, Vancouver, Victoria and other places in southwestern British Columbia are much warmer than the rest of Canada.

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

Do you know what is a good size pot for Red Russian and dinosaur/ lacintino kale? for one plant in one pot

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

1 gallon minimum, preferably 3 gallons or even 5 gallons for larger specimens

[@PivotIntoPlants]

Can you grow kale in a bucket or garden box? I live in Florida

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

100% Sherene! Kale grows great in containers!

[@socloseagain4298]

Hey dude I've been meaning to ask you: is it possible to make compost tea but instead of compost with fresh green leaves? Cheers 😊😊

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yes, 100%. It takes longer though.....you see compost teas are for the microbes, not the nutrients....tea with leaves is fermented down to a fertilizer. Check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpzGXpWZnNulabc

[@socloseagain4298]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thank you!! 😀

[@ernaminten4227]

How do you guys keep the slugs away? Our kale is being eaten away by them we believe. Thanks

[@brittrathbunwoo7370]

I love this, "If the thought of eating brussel sprouts or broccoli gives you pause...." 😆😆 It's more like, "If the thought of eating brussel sprouts or broccoli makes you chuck...." 🤮

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

LOL! :-)

[@TheNEPTY]

8 weeks is 2 months not 4 😂