Flowering Kale plants are a showy, ornamental grown for their colorful leaves. In the Fall, when other flowers are dying off, Kale gives off a generous splash of color. The cool weather Flowering Kale plant grows better in cool, and even cold weather.
Native to Europe, the plants grow a mounded rosette of deeply lobed, outer leaves in a range of green hues. The colorful center leaves include in pink, white, purple, and reds.
These biennials form a head in the first year. In the second year, they produce flowers and seeds. Many people do not know this and treat the plant as an annual.
Flowering Kale is edible landscaping. When you are done admiring their colorful display, you can eat the leaves in salads, and any recipe where regular vegetable garden Kale is used. See other Edible Flowers
Try growing Flowering Kale in rock gardens, along walking paths, in containers or window boxes.
Flowers Bloom: Summer through Winter.
Plant Height: 12″ – 18″
Annual, Brassica Oleracea
Flowering Kale is grown from seed. Plants are grown from seeds. Directly sow seeds into your flower garden.
You can also start seeds indoors, 4 – 6 weeks before transplanting.
Sow Kale seeds 1/8 inch deep and cover them with fine garden soil or seeds starting mix. Then, keep the soil moist while the seeds are germinating.
Seeds are quick sprouting.
Days to Germination: 5 – 10 days.
Germination Temperature: 55 – 65 degrees.
Grow Flowering Kale plants in full sun. They will tolerate partial shade. Kale is a cool weather plant. Consequently, we recommend partial shade, when growing them in hot regions of the country.
Grow in rich, well-drained soil.
This cool-weather flower prefers cool soil and air temperatures 50 to 60 degrees, or lower. After the first frost, it will continue growing.
Keep soil moist, not wet. Water as needed, especially during dry weather.
Fertilize plants once a month, with a fertilizer high in nitrogen. Liquid fertilizers work best for fast growth.
Mulch around plants for a neat and tidy appearance, and to help keep the soil cool and moist.
If you eat the leaves, they are bitter in warm or hot weather, They will turn sweeter after the first frost.
Ideal Soil pH: 5.8 – 6.5.
Cabbage Loopers are a common problem. Pick by hand. Cabbage worms and root maggots can also be a problem. If you are not going to eat the Kale, use insecticides, as needed.
Garden Tip: Also, you can place a fine mesh net around the pants to deter cabbage loopers.
Disease problems are infrequent.
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