Kale 'Tuscan'
Cool season crop. Baby green leaves may be harvested 7 weeks after planting.
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One of the most popular vegies of the decade – kale! Known for its high quality nutrients, this once-humble crop is now tossed into salads, blended into smoothies and even lightly baked into chips (FYI – just a dash of olive oil, salt and pepper).
With its growing popularity, it can be hard to get your hands on a bunch (and sometimes expensive, too), but you can make sure you’ll always have a fresh supply by growing your own! Choose from Tuscan, Curly, Blue Curl Scotch or Red Russian. There are also ornamental kale varieties – you can’t eat them, but they sure are pretty to have in the garden.
How to grow kale in a garden
- Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, cover, firm down and water well. Keep the soil moist so the seeds don’t dry out.
- While the seedlings are growing, choose a sunny or part-shade spot in the garden and prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed. You can also sow direct into the garden bed once the soil has been enriched with organic matter.
- Once seedlings have emerged, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate. Allow seedlings to grow to about 4-6cm before transplanting.
- When transplanting them into your prepared garden bed, ensure seedlings are spaced at least 30cm apart. Mulch with an organic mulch, such as pea or lucerne straw and water in well.
- Feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate to ensure strong root development and lush green leaves.
- Harvest continually to promote new growth.
How to grow kale in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 300mm wide and position in a sunny or part shade spot and protect from strong winds.
- Fill starter trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover and gently water. Keep the soil moist throughout germination.
- Once seedlings reach 4-6cm tall, fill chosen pot with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix. Choose healthy seedlings and transplant into pot and water in well with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
- Feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate to ensure strong root development and lush green leaves.
- Harvest continually to promote new growth.
Growing tips
Leaves will be darker, tender and sweeter when temperatures are cooler.
Rotate crops and plant kale in a different spot the following year – this helps reduce the potential of pests and diseases in the soil.
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Recommended products
Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix
Specially formulated for trouble-free seed raising in trays (or outdoor seed sowing direclty into the ground) and propagation of cuttings.
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
Yates Premium Potting Mix
A premium potting mix, ideal for all potted plants and shrubs, including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and herbs.
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