Growing kale from seed in containers full#

When planting this cole crop in rows, thin your seedlings or set out your transplants so that they are 12-18 inches apart, with 2-3 feet between rows.

Growing kale from seed in containers full#

If you have your culinary sights set on stir fries rather than salads then you’ll likely want to harvest large leaves from full sized plants, getting more produce from each one.Īlthough spacing for full sized plants is similar for rows, raised beds, and containers, there are some slight differences, which I’ll go over here. Jill MacKenzie at the University of Minnesota Extension recommends the tighter end of the range, just 4 inches between plants.

If you are planting your crop from transplants instead of from seed, you’ll use the same rule of thumb for spacing, only you’ll skip the seeding and thinning part. With this method, your constant harvesting of small, tender leaves will prevent the veggies from maturing and getting too big, thus the need for less room. Make sure to refer to our guide if you need to brush up on your harvesting technique for this leafy veggie.Ĭontinue thinning your seedlings throughout the growing season until plants are 4-8 inches apart – our first set of magic numbers. You can eat kale seedlings at any size, including when they are teeny tiny microgreens. See our guide on when to sow kale seeds here.Īs the seedlings grow, thin them at any stage, using the thinned greens in salads or as a garnish. When planting seeds for a harvest of baby greens, start by sowing your seeds approximately one inch apart. Recommendations for baby greens are the same whether you’re planting in rows, garden beds, or containers. If your preferred way to eat kale is in salads, you’ll probably prefer to harvest this veggie in its young stage, as tender baby greens. The results? Widely spaced crops had a higher overall yield than ones that were planted close together.Īnd even if you interplant your kale crop with good companions like I do, you’ll still want to know how much room each of your plants will need so that you can plan your garden accordingly. Chweya details a study he carried out on kale spacing and yield. An article in the International Society for Horticultural Science journal by J. And finally, crowding does not increase your harvest.Crowded veggies may compete with one another for nutrients and water, resulting in wilted greens.This way you can quickly treat or remove them, and prevent the problem from spreading. If you do experience a disease outbreak, a little extra room between each plant will help you keep infected specimens isolated.Ensuring good airflow around leaves helps ward off fungal infections, and makes it easier to spot the first signs of disease.

Keeping these vegetables well-spaced instead of crowded makes it easier to inspect for cabbage worms and other pests.

When you can clearly identify each individual plant instead of picking through a mass of tangled leaves, it is much easier to harvest your greens properly.

Leaving enough room around your plants helps to ensure that the leaves get plenty of sun, resulting in healthy, thriving crops.

Planning for the right distance between these leafy greens can be the difference between a bountiful harvest – and a meager one. Before we get to deciphering the magic numbers, let’s remind ourselves why we are interested in properly spacing our kale plants in the first place.