Kale growth stages

Fortunately, pest populations often drop dramatically in the fall. Regardless, watch out for the following pests.

Cabbage maggots are the larvae of cabbage whiteflies. These pests are velvety green worms that love to chew holes in kale leaves. Remove infested leaves.

Varieties of Kale

There are five basic types of kale: curly kale (also known as Scotch kale or borecole) with tightly curled leaves; broadleaf kale (also called Siberian kale) with smoother leaves with frilled edges; Red Russian kale with frilly-edged blue-green leaves; black Tuscan kale (also known as Dinosaur kale) with narrow, almost blue leaves with a creped texture; and ornamental bicolor kales which are edible although they are commonly seen for their color in flower gardens.

• Curly kale (Borecole, Scotch kale) is one of the hardiest members of the cabbage family. Curly kale has deeply crinkle green or blue leaves; some varieties have deep purple curled leaves. Curly kale is grown for both mature leaves and young spring soot. Tall varieties grow to 36 inches (90cm) tall; dwarf varieties grow to 12 inches (30cm) tall. Varieties include the hybrids Darkibor, Fribor, Showbor and Winterbot. Redbor and Garna Derg have red leaves. Dwarf Green Curled Afro is an heirloom variety. Showbor and Starbor and minor varieties.
• Broadleaf kale has flat rather than curled leaves. Broadleaf kale is cultivated mainly for its spring shoots. These kales are faster growing than curly kales. Types include Pentland Brig and Hunger Gap.
• Russian red kale has attractive blue-green leaves that develop distinct shades of purple and red as the temperature drops. This port has a mild flavor and a smooth texture. It grows to 27 inches (70cm) tall. It grows to maturity in about 50 days.
• Tuscan black or Lancinato kale (also known as black kale, black cabbage, Cavolo nero, palm cabbage, and dinosaur kale) produces mounds of, narrow, long almost blue leaves with a creped texture. Tuscan black kale is widely grown in Italy. Leaves have a distinct flavor that is often used in soups and salads when picked young. It can grow to 4 feet (2m) tall. It grows to maturity in about 62 days.
• Canes and ornamental cabbage – these are very decorative and colorful plants that are commonly grown as ornamentals, but can also be used as a garnish. These have deeply serrated leaves. The colors deepen in cold weather.

If you don’t have space to grow kale in the garden, or if you don’t want to save the trouble, you can grow it there pot or other container suitable for the soil. The pot or container must have at least six square inches of space for the plant to grow in. Plant your seeds or starts in the center of the pot, after fertilizing and at the same depth recommended for garden planting (a good layer of compost, with seeds planted ½ inch deep). Be sure to move container-grown kale into a partially shaded area when summer arrives.

Expose Kale Seeds to 6 Hours of Sunlight When It Begins to Germinate

During the sprout stage, kale seeds need 6 hours of sunlight. The 6 hours of sunlight is enough for kale seeds to sprout easily.

The seed will also grow even when the number of hours you expose kale seeds is less than 6 hours.

Seed Germination Or Grass Stage

Whether you plant the seeds in a seedling tray or directly into the ground, it should take about 5 to 8 days for them to germinate. You can help speed up this process by soaking the seeds in warm water for about 24 hours before planting.

Additionally, if you have well-prepared loamy soil with plenty of organic matter added and well-drained, you may find that your kale seeds will begin to germinate sooner than 5 days .