La kale, whose scientific name is Brassicola oleracea var. sabella, is a wonderful horticultural plant, as well as being able to be used in the kitchen to prepare delicious recipes, it can also be used as an ornamental plant, decorating, for example, a terrace or patio. If you're interested in growing other varieties, you can learn more about types of cabbages or about the Milan cabbage.
The curious shape of its leaves makes it one of the most curious species. But how is it grown?
Kale characteristics
Our protagonist It is a herbaceous plant native to northern Germany that grows to 40 centimeters in height. The leaves grow in rosettes and are large, up to 35-30 cm long, dark green, and very curly. For those looking for information on the care of other similar plants, the garden cabbage care may be of interest, as well as knowing more about the broccoli.
Its growth rate is very fast, to the point that from sowing to harvesting only a maximum of 20 weeks pass, which is five months. And, as it resists cold well, it can be grown in all temperate regions of the world. The question is, how?
Cultivation
If you want to make a salad with kale leaves, or prepare any other dish with them, then we will tell you how it is grown:
- Sowing time: The ideal time is in spring, when the risk of frost has passed.
- Location: Outdoors, in full sun. It is highly recommended to sow in a seedbed and transfer the seedlings to the garden when they have grown a little. If you want to learn about other plants that can grow well in the shade, check out this article on indoor hanging plants.
- Transplant: when they are at least 5cm high, either to a larger pot or to the garden. If you choose this last option, plant them leaving a distance between them of 30cm.
- Irrigation: frequent, avoid letting the substrate or soil dry out. Therefore, it should be watered every 2-3 days, increasing the frequency in summer if necessary.
- Subscriber: Throughout the season, fertilize with organic fertilizers, applying a 2-3cm layer to vegetable plants, or fertilize potted plants with liquid fertilizers such as guano, following the instructions on the packaging. For more in-depth information on these fertilization topics, see superfoods that you can plant at home.
- Harvest: in autumn-winter.
- Rusticity: it supports well the cold of up to -9ºC.
Have a good harvest .