Content
- Plant kale in your own garden
- At which location is kale planted?
- The right pH in the soil
- Note crop rotation
- When will kale be planted?
- With which plant neighbors the kale tolerates well
- Which planting distance must be observed?
- Maintain kale properly
- Protect kale from pests
- Harvest kale
- Key facts at a glance
Kale is planted outdoors from the end of May
Plant kale in your own garden
Kale has been grown in Germany for several hundred years. Most varieties are very hardy and can be harvested throughout the winter. Learn how to plant and care for kale so you can enjoy a rich harvest.
Early article The most important kale varieties Next article Fight pests on the kaleKale is very robust and unpretentious in terms of location and care. Nevertheless, you should try to provide him with the best conditions so that he can prosper well.
At which location is kale planted?
Kale grows best in a sunny spot and humus rich, medium clay soil. It is particularly important that the soil is not too acidic and sufficient nutrients are present.
The right pH in the soil
If the soil is too acidic, the curly kale will not feel well and will thrive badly. But how do you know if your soil is acidic? You can do a soil sample or watch out for pointer plants. The following plants indicate an acid soil: Ackererlörger, Ackerziest, Bracken, Ehrenpreis, Daisies, Hasenklee, Hederich, Hohlzahn, chamomile, sorrel, small meadow sorrel, holly, purple pansy, woolly honey grass.
If these plants are numerous in their garden, the soil is probably quite acidic. In this case, you should put some lime under the soil before planting your kale to neutralize the pH.
Note crop rotation
Kale should be planted in a location where no cabbage has been grown for at least three years. This also applies the other way round: After the second year of decay, no cabbage may be planted in that location for three years.
When will kale be planted?
Since kale is only harvested in winter, the sowing is done quite late. So you can sow the seeds directly into the field after the Eisheiligen in May. Alternatively, from the beginning of May, you can also put the kale in front of the windowsill and plant the 5 to 10 cm large plantlets into the bed at the end of May.
With which plant neighbors the kale tolerates well
As with all vegetables should also be paid to the right plant neighbors in kale, because he does not get along with everyone.
Good neighbors are:
Bad he agrees with:
Which planting distance must be observed?
Depending on the type of cabbage, kale can grow up to a meter or even bigger! He needs space for that. Therefore, a planting distance of 40 to 50cm from one plant to the next is observed. Here you will find an overview of the kale varieties and their stature height.
Maintain kale properly
Kale needs enough water and nutrients to develop its relatively thick, curly leaves. Therefore, adequate irrigation should be ensured throughout the growth phase. Irrigation ditches or a sprinkler system facilitate the work.
In summer, a second fertilization should be done. Horn meal or horn shavings are better than compost because it contains more nitrogen and less phosphate, which is usually sufficiently present in the soil
Protect kale from pests
The cabbage fly is the killer's biggest enemy. A vegetable net can protect as a precaution or prevent a new case. Good irrigation prevents another enemy, the earth flea. How to proceed with a pest infestation, you can find out here.
Harvest kale
Kale is known to be harvested in winter. It needs cold for a few days, at best frost, so that the content of bitter substances decreases and the sugar content rises. Kale can be harvested in the snow and cold from October to February. Harvest only the outer leaves, so that the kale grows. If it is permanently cold, however, the kale ceases its growth.