We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Gardening

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Best Tips for Planting Kale Seeds?

By O. Parker
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 6,661
Share

Kale is a cool season leafy-green vegetable crop. Growing kale from seed successfully requires the right mix of temperature, light, and soil medium. Timing also is an important element to growing kale from seed — the seedlings must be ready to plant early enough in summer to allow them enough time to mature before the late fall harvest.

Kale seeds are started in spring for summer planting. The plants grow through late summer and into the fall for a late fall harvest. In areas with mild winters, kale also can be planted in fall for mid- to late-winter harvests.

The soil medium is important when starting kale seeds. Seeds are delicate and easily attacked by pathogens in regular garden soil. A suitable soilless seed starting mix typically is comprised of a combination of peat moss, sand, sterilized compost, perlite, and vermiculite. These materials provide a structure with good drainage and moisture retention for starting seeds. Home and garden centers often sell premixed soilless seed-starting medium.

A seed flat with drainage holes provides a suitable container for starting kale seeds. Cell packs, with individual 1 or 2-inch (about 2.5- to 5-cm) compartments also make good containers. The seeds are planted 1/4-inch (about 0.6 cm) deep and should be kept consistently damp during germination and early growth. When planting in cell packs, three or four kale seeds can be planted close together in each compartment, and when the seedlings emerge, all but the strongest ones are removed in a process called thinning. In seed starting flats, kale seeds can be planted close together and then thinned or transplanted during early development.

The seeds germinate in four to six days when the temperature remains between 65°F and 70°F (about 18°C to 21°C). A heating pad designed for seed germination can also help keep the soil temperature consistently within the range for germination in cool areas. In hot summer weather, kale seeds should be kept indoors where the temperature can be controlled.

Once kale seeds germinate and emerge from the soil, the temperature should be lowered to a range between 60°F and 65°F (about 15°C to 18°C). Frequent watering during early seedling development is critical for development. The soil in the seed flat should be watered whenever the top of the soil starts to feel dry.

Kale seedlings should be transplanted into individual 1- or 2-inch (about 2.5- to 5-cm) pots or cell packs when they grow 1 to 2 inches (about 2.5 to 5 cm) tall. When grown in a seed-starting flat, kale seeds should be thinned to a spacing of 1 inch (about 2.5 cm) between plants. The thinned starts can be replanted in individual pots or discarded.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-are-the-best-tips-for-planting-kale-seeds.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.