How to plant kale better
Today's sharing: kale cultivation skills and management methods, as well as some tips on how to plant kale better. The following is a detailed explanation by the editor for you.
Kale is also known as ornamental kale, leaf peony, and colorful leaf cabbage. It belongs to the Cruciferae, brassica genus. It is native to Western Europe and Japan.
【Morphological Characteristics】
Kale is a biennial ornamental leafy herbaceous plant, a horticultural variety of "cabbage." The leaves are tightly alternate, clustering into a spherical shape. The leaves are relatively wide and large, with finely wrinkled and wavy edges, and the color of the inner leaves is rich, with varieties ranging from purple-red, peach-red, gray-green, light yellow to milky white. The ornamental period of the leaves is from January to February.
The plant height is generally 20-40 centimeters, with tall and short varieties. Short varieties are suitable for potting and flower bed arrangements. Tall varieties are mainly used for cut flower materials. The flowering period is from March to April. The silicles mature from April to May. There are about 450 seeds per gram.
【Growth Habits】
Kale is cold-resistant and prefers a sunny environment. Under full sunlight, the plants are robust, compact, and the leaves are bright. Otherwise, the leaves will be loose and the color will be dull, affecting the ornamental effect.
The cultivation soil should be neutral or slightly acidic, preferably fertile sandy loam rich in organic matter. The leaves begin to color when the night temperature is between 7-10°C. The time from sowing to flowering is about 80-90 days.
【Propagation Methods】
Kale is propagated by sowing. The sowing period is generally from July to August. For sowing, use fertile sandy loam as the seedbed, directly broadcast the seeds on the soil, no need to cover the soil, but water thoroughly. In a sunny environment, seedlings can emerge after about one week.
How to plant kale better
【Cultivation Management】
When the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, transplant them once. When they grow to 5-7 leaves, they can be transplanted. When transplanting, the roots should be slightly covered with soil, planted slightly deeper, and straightened. The spacing between plants depends on the variety, generally 30-40 centimeters. If it is purchased seeds, follow the instructions on the seed packet.
Apply sufficient base fertilizer before transplanting. During cultivation, water less and apply more fertilizer. The main fertilizer is the base fertilizer. For pot cultivation, the soil should be mixed with a certain amount of decomposed organic fertilizer, with a mixing ratio of 4:1 soil to fertilizer. If the seedlings are directly transplanted to the flower bed, apply about 20 grams of organic fertilizer per hole.
In the later growth stage, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers appropriately, avoid applying nitrogen fertilizers to promote coloring and growth. When fertilizing, do not pour fertilizer on the leaves or into the flower hearts to avoid leaf stains or leaf tip and heart rot caused by fertilizer damage.
In the southern part of the Yangtze River, kale must be cultivated outdoors and not in greenhouses or plastic tunnels, because its seedlings must endure a freezing process at a low temperature of about 0°C when they have 4-5 true leaves to avoid early bolting.
The seedlings usually bolt, flower, and set fruit in the following March to April. The seeds mature from May to June. When the pods turn from green to yellow, cut the inflorescence and place it in a bamboo basket to dry. After drying, remove the fruit pods and select clean, plump seeds, then store them in paper bags or glass bottles for future use.
After the plant bolts and flowers, the plant height can reach about 1 meter and is prone to lodging, so it is necessary to support it with thin bamboo stakes in time. Kale is easily eaten by poultry or wild rabbits, so it is important to take precautions.
【Usage】
Kale has a full and tidy plant shape, resembling peony flowers, with bright leaf color, making it a rare material for enriching winter and early spring flower beds and an excellent choice for pot-grown ornamental leaves. Some tall varieties are also a new type of cut flower material.
【Cultivation Tips】
First, apply sufficient base fertilizer before transplanting and apply more fertilizer and less water during the cultivation period.
Second, the seedlings must undergo a low-temperature freezing process at about 0°C when they have 4-5 true leaves, otherwise they will bolt early.
Third, be sure to support the seedlings with thin bamboo stakes to prevent lodging and ensure the quality of the fruit.
The above information on kale cultivation skills and management methods, and detailed introduction on how to plant kale better, do you understand now?