Can I plant kale in containers successfully?

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.

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.

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