How to plant kale?

Kale is increasingly recognized as a super food and is a staple in salads and healthy dishes. Above and beyond its impact on your waistline, Kale has a few properties that make it suitable for indoor growing. Kale is a hardy plant and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, often resulting in a less-labor intensive and less demanding choice for indoor growers.

Kale is also a plant that prefers shadier conditions and can thrive on 8 hours of sunlight, making it a good choice for individuals who do not receive large amounts of sunlight within their homes. Of course during the winter months when bright sunlight is less abundant, you can place Kale is a position where it receives sunlight for longer periods. Kale can also be harvested when necessary, taking just a few leaves for maximum freshness in your dishes.

There are many different species of kale, all of which can be grown indoors. Baby kale is a milder and more nutritious choice compared to other species, which makes it particularly popular, as does curly kale. Kale is thought to be sweeter when exposed to a mild frost, so as we are growing our Kale indoors it is best to choose a sweeter variety to begin with.

As with other indoor plants your container will need to be deep enough, with at least eight inches of soil recommended. Kale prefers a slightly acidic soil that is low in nitrogen, so consider your soil blend carefully – loam rich soils are the best choice. The soil should also be well-drained so ensure your container has enough holes in its base or another drainage solution.

Plant kale seeds around ½ inches deep in the soil and should be planted around 6 inches apart if you intend to have multiple plants within the same container. Although kale needs an adequate supply of water, like any other plant, you should be watering Kale to a degree where the surface layer of soil dries before it is watered again. Kale also works well in hydroponic systems if you wish to diverge from container based indoor gardening.

Once the leaves of the kale plant are around the size of your hand they can be harvested. Avoid harvesting the 'terminal' buds, which are at the center and the top of the plant if you wish for your kale to continue to grow. Kale leaves should keep for around 1 week in the refrigerator.