Get ready to try growing kale in containers! As long as you follow the proper techniques, you will achieve great success. You will need at least 12-inch deep pots with drainage holes to accommodate the roots. I've successfully grown pounds of the stuff on my apartment balcony using this technique. Container gardening is a great solution for those with limited space.
Pot Requirements
- Depth: Minimum 12 inches (30 cm)
- Material: Plastic or fabric with drainage
- Volume: 5 gallons (19L) per plant
- Tip: Dark colors absorb heat in cool climates
Soil Mix Formula
- Base: 60% potting soil
- Amendment: 30% compost
- Drainage: 10% perlite
- pH: Maintain 6.0-7.0
Select compact types bred for container growing. 'Dwarf Blue Curled' and 'Dwarf Green Curled' are best in my experience. For colourful harvests, I grow 'Red Ursa' in my 15-inch pots. These reach only 12-18 inches tall but bear full-size leaves. Plant them 10-12 inches apart to allow for airflow.
Rotate containers a quarter-turn weekly for even exposure to the sun and to avoid one-sided growth. I mark my pots to remind me. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Container plants dry out quicker than those planted in the ground. During heatwaves, I check the moisture level every day.
Monthly fertilizing with a balanced compost tea is advisable, and I use fish emulsion every 4 weeks. Since container plants exhaust nutrients faster than garden beds, mid-season feeding with compost tea is a good idea. Cease feeding 6 weeks before the expected frost to harden off the plants.
Summer Protection
- Issue: Pot overheating
- Solution: Double-potting technique
- Temperature: Keep below 85°F (29°C)
- Watering: Twice daily in extreme heat
Winter Strategies
- Protection: Insulate with bubble wrap
- Location: South-facing walls
- Harvest: Continue until 20°F (-7°C)
- Watering: Reduce to weekly
Harvest with the "cut-and-come-again method". Picking encourages new outer leaves to grow. Container kale will produce for 5 to 6 months, depending on the care it receives. I pick for my balcony garden every week. Move pots to shelter during storms.
Read the full article: When to Plant Kale: Expert Timing Guide
