What are the signs of overwatering kale?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Kale plants often show signs of too much water first by a yellowing off the edges of the leaves. They want you to water less! I once lost an entire crop to root rot because I didn't realize my clay soil was holding in moisture like a sponge. Now a quick test of the soil is to press my two fingers into the top inch of the soil. If it clumps, it will wait.
Visible Symptoms
- Yellow/brown leaf margins progressing inward
- Soft, mushy stems near soil line
- Stunted growth despite adequate sunlight
Root Health Checks
- Gently unearth roots: white = healthy, brown = rot
- Trim damaged roots with sterilized shears
- Repot in fresh, well-draining soil mix
Container drainage is crucial, especially for the urban gardener! My terracotta pots with three large drainage holes have decreased overwatering issues by 60% when compared to using plastic pots. For shallots, I plant kale in the ground in a 12-inch trench filled with gravel, to direct excess rain and irrigation water outside the root zones in heavy rain events.
Soil composition determines how often a plant should be watered. Generally, sandy soils will require two to three soakings of the plant each week. Therefore it is essential to monitor clay watering weekly.I usually add coco coir to dense soils to increase airborne movement.I use a rain gauge to track natural precipitation. Amounts should be subtracted from the 1.5 inches of water to be applied each week.
You can save severely overwatered kale by taking stem cuttings and rooting them. Clip off healthy 6-inch tips to make your cuttings, and remove the lower leaves. Then root them in a glass of water for ten days. Once some roots have grown, transplant the survivors into some dry soil! In an unexpected rainy season (referred to as a monsoon) I saved 40% of my plants by rooting cuttings.
Read the full article: How to Grow Kale: Complete Planting and Harvesting Guide
