Kale Seeds

West Coast Seeds, Kale Seeds - Additional Information

How to Grow Kale

Planting Schedule:
Kickstart your kale garden by direct sowing from early spring to mid-summer, ensuring a bountiful harvest from summer through winter. For an even earlier start, sow seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date, ready for transplanting as the soil begins to warm.

Seeds thrive in soil temperatures ranging from 10-30°C (50-85°F) and will germinate within 7-10 days.


Seed Starting:
Plant 3-4 seeds 5mm (¼”) deep at each desired plant location. Once sprouted, thin the seedlings to retain only the strongest plant at each site.

Arrange your garden with 45-60cm (18-24″) between plants, in rows spaced 75-90cm (30-36″) apart, to give each kale plant room to flourish.


Growing:
Kale prefers a soil pH of 6.0-6.8. To achieve the ideal pH, enhance your garden bed with lime three weeks before planting. This nutrient-rich plant flourishes in well-drained, fertile soil and benefits from consistent moisture.

While kale can withstand drought, optimal watering ensures the best quality and flavour. Enrich the planting area with ¼ cups of complete organic fertilizer per plant or 1 cup per every 3m (10′) row to support healthy growth.


Harvesting:
Kale offers versatile harvesting options. For a continuous supply of tender salad greens, direct-seed and harvest young plants at 5-8cm (2-3″) tall; they will regrow for successive cuttings.

Alternatively, harvest mature leaves from the bottom up as needed. Come spring, don’t overlook the tasty flowering steps and buds of overwintered plants for an early-season treat.

Kale Pests & Diseases

Aphids
Aphids are small, sap-sucking insects that can cause kale leaves to curl and become discoloured.

Introduce beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to your garden, as they are natural predators of aphids.

To treat affected plants, insecticidal soap or neem oil should be applied, focusing on the undersides of leaves where aphids congregate.


Cabbage Worms
These green caterpillars chew large holes in kale leaves and can quickly decimate a crop.

Cover your kale with floating row covers to prevent butterflies and moths from laying eggs on the plants. Check plants regularly for eggs and remove them.

Handpick any visible caterpillars and drop them into soapy water. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is an organic, bacteria-based pesticide that targets caterpillars without harming beneficial insects.


Downy Mildew
This fungal disease appears as yellow patches on leaves with a fluffy white growth underneath.

Proper spacing around plants ensures good air circulation. Water plants at the base to avoid wetting the foliage, which encourages mildew.

Remove and destroy affected leaves to prevent the spread. For severe cases, apply a fungicide formulated for downy mildew, following the label instructions.


Clubroot:
Clubroot causes swollen, distorted roots, leading to stunted growth and wilted plants.

Rotate crops annually to avoid replanting kale or other brassicas in the same location for at least four years. Lime the soil to keep the pH around 7.2, which discourages clubroot.

There is no cure for clubroot once plants are infected. Remove and destroy affected plants. Amend soil with lime to raise the pH for future plantings.


Flea Beetles:
Tiny, dark beetles that leave small holes or pits in kale leaves.

Use row covers to protect young plants. As a trap crop, incorporate plants that attract flea beetles away from kale, like radishes.

Apply diatomaceous earth around the base of plants, or use pyrethrin-based organic pesticides to control severe infestations.