How to grow kale?

[pepper]

Someone gave me some kale seeds but there are no info on the pack and I've never grown it before. Would it be okay to plant it in a spot that doesn't get full sun all day?

 

[Chuck]

Someone gave me some kale seeds but there are no info on the pack and I've never grown it before. Would it be okay to plant it in a spot that doesn't get full sun all day?

It is a cool weather plant but I planted some two years ago in early spring in a place that only received about 5 hours of sunlight. It grew extremely well and I had more than I knew what to do with. But once it started getting hot it bolted but being in Canada I doubt you will have that problem until maybe late summer.

 

[pepper]

It is a cool weather plant but I planted some two years ago in early spring in a place that only received about 5 hours of sunlight. It grew extremely well and I had more than I knew what to do with. But once it started getting hot it bolted but being in Canada I doubt you will have that problem until maybe late summer.

Sounds good, thanks. It's been pretty good during the days here but nights are still between 2 and 10 most of the time. It's been frustrating but I'm happy I can make use of a spot I have tilled up but couldn't think of anything to grow in it because of the shade. Next week it's suppose to be all double digits at night.. my fingers are crossed.

 

[YumYum]

I grow my leaf lettuce, last freeze till first freeze, on a mobile wagon that goes in the shade about half of the day this time year. The lettuce still bolts fairly quickly and get bitter but the harvest time is extended somewhat. It really does taste better when grown in cool weather though.

 

[Meadowlark]

It is amazing in its tolerance for climate conditions. The Kale below was still thriving here in June with temps above 90 deg. F every day. It would have kept going but I needed the space for something else. They say the fullest growth will occur when the plant gets six or more hours of direct sunlight on most days. That is true but it definitely can survive on less, just not grow as well. One of my favorite plants.

 

[Chuck]

Sounds good, thanks. It's been pretty good during the days here but nights are still between 2 and 10 most of the time. It's been frustrating but I'm happy I can make use of a spot I have tilled up but couldn't think of anything to grow in it because of the shade. Next week it's suppose to be all double digits at night.. my fingers are crossed.

You better check your soil temps. 40F is absolute minimum. 55-65 is best.

 

[headfullofbees]

I've found slugs & whitefly problematic with kale.
So I sow in modules, planting out later, & intersperse a few dwarf marigolds, which the whitefly hate.

 

[Chuck]

I've found slugs & whitefly problematic with kale.
So I sow in modules, planting out later, & intersperse a few dwarf marigolds, which the whitefly hate.

When you speak of whitefly, what exactly are you referring to? On this forum I have heard of carrots, cole crops and others being severely attacked by these things. I don't know if we have them here or not as I don't believe I have ever seen one or at least by that name.

 

[Meadowlark]

White fly isn't a true fly rather it's more like a flying aphid. "Worldwide economic losses are estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars annually."

I had them in Houston for a few years on gardenia plants used for a hedge. They came in with the plants from the nursery. They were very difficult to get rid of. Hard sprays of water seemed the most effective for me. I've never had them in my garden... to which I attribute to good garden practices and perhaps luck.

 

[pepper]

When I've grown things like lettuce, cabbage, and anything leafy I have never noticed whiteflies but the slugs are definitely a problem. I'll have to keep on-top of beer troughs for the slugs and keep putting diatomatious earth on them that will hopefully help if there is a white fly problem. Actually groundhogs I find are worse then anything, I always have live traps set around the garden with greens and peanut butter in them and every morning hope there isn't a skunk in one.

 

[Chuck]

When I've grown things like lettuce, cabbage, and anything leafy I have never noticed whiteflies but the slugs are definitely a problem. I'll have to keep on-top of beer troughs for the slugs and keep putting diatomatious earth on them that will hopefully help if there is a white fly problem. Actually groundhogs I find are worse then anything, I always have live traps set around the garden with greens and peanut butter in them and every morning hope there isn't a skunk in one.

My biggest PITA are deer. I keep telling them that if they eat my garden I will eat them, but, do they listen? I seldom buy beef.

 

[pepper]

My biggest PITA are deer. I keep telling them that if they eat my garden I will eat them, but, do they listen? I seldom buy beef.

Lol! Thankfully not many deer get into my garden. Unfortunately that means I have to work a lot harder at getting my venison lol. But I am the same, most of the time I eat venison and other harvested meat. Beef is not often something I purchase, but it is a treat once in a while.

 

[Mr_Yan]

@pepper, grow it just like the cabbage. They're just different "breeds" of the same plant.

Mine are in the ground now and we've had 12+ frosts or freezes since I planted them out.

Usually I grow the same few kale plants all summer and continually harvest from them all season. I'll move away from that this season as aphids became a problem. Aphids were mainly on the Red Russian kale until over the winter. Who would have thought there would be both snow on the ground and massive aphid colonies on kale leafs.

 

[Mr_Yan]

My biggest PITA are deer. I keep telling them that if they eat my garden I will eat them, but, do they listen? I seldom buy beef.

I'm about to do the same with Eastern Cottontail rabbit. Any suggestions?

 

[Chuck]

I'm about to do the same with Eastern Cottontail rabbit. Any suggestions?

Braised and then simmered in white gravy until tender. Homemade biscuits, fresh corn and salad.