Flowering kale dying quickly

[Belmont]

Hey all. I bought a flowering kale plant a while ago, and initially it was doing well. However, the leaves began turning yellow and big spots began appearing on several of the leaves. It is accelerating quickly, I believe the plant will be dead within 2 or 3 weeks if I dont act. Any help or advice is much appreciated.

 

[Chuck]

Is it bolting? If so it's natural. From what I can tell from the pictures is that it is an older plant and is supposed to bolt in the fall and early winter.. Where you live in zone 4 it is an annual plant. In the south one may get 2 years out of a plant if he is lucky. In your case the plant has probably already flowered and gone to seed and what you are seeing is mother natures way of getting rid of the plant.

 

[Belmont]

Hmm...that would be really unfortunate. I just bought it a few weeks ago, if its bolting it would have flowered before I got it. Ah, well, thats what I get for buying plants on a whim

 

[Chuck]

Hmm...that would be really unfortunate. I just bought it a few weeks ago, if its bolting it would have flowered before I got it. Ah, well, thats what I get for buying plants on a whim

I made a mistake. I was thinking of edible kale not ornamental kale. Is this plant kept inside and if not how much cool/cold weather has it had? My best guess is that it is being kept too warm. It needs cool/cold temperatures in order to color. And it does not like to be wet. Just a little moist.

 

[Belmont]

Its kept inside, we've had snow on the ground for nearly 3 weeks here. Temperature is never higher than 23C and never lower than 19C. I might be keeping it a little too wet, but only just if at all. I suspect the spots are evidence of some sort of disease, but Im not at all sure.

 

[Chuck]

Its kept inside, we've had snow on the ground for nearly 3 weeks here. Temperature is never higher than 23C and never lower than 19C. I might be keeping it a little too wet, but only just if at all. I suspect the spots are evidence of some sort of disease, but Im not at all sure.

Kale is a cool weather plant and will not flower or color up unless it is in cold or cool temperatures and 19c-23C is way too warm. It likes a frost or a light freeze and being kept in warm temperatures will cause all kinds of problems. The dark blotches and yellowing leaves are what happens to my Brassicas after they have matured and are on their way to dying.

 

[Belmont]

Hmm...Ill try and find somewhere but Im afraid it might be tricky with winter setting in, some nights are already getting down to -25C

 

[Chuck]

Hmm...Ill try and find somewhere but Im afraid it might be tricky with winter setting in, some nights are already getting down to -25C

Kale can survive down to about -8C but any lower and it will freeze.

 

[Belmont]

Ill put it outside today, then, its supposed to be actually really quite warm, high of 5c. Hopefully make it happier but by the end of the month were nearly guaranteed to not see anything warmer than -8 until at least new years

 

[Chuck]

Ill put it outside today, then, its supposed to be actually really quite warm, high of 5c. Hopefully make it happier but by the end of the month were nearly guaranteed to not see anything warmer than -8 until at least new years

Go ahead and try to save it but remember it is an annual and it has just about reached its life span.

 

[Belmont]

Will do. Many thanks, I really appreciate the advice.