How to propagate kale through sowing

Seed propagation of kale

Sowing time

The sowing time of kale is usually chosen from mid-July to early August. If it is sown too early, the old leaves will turn yellow in the later stage of growth, which will increase the difficulty of management and extend the management period. If the sowing time is too late, it is easy for the crown diameter of the leaves to not reach the required specifications when leaving the field.

Seedling cultivation method

Sowing can be done in the open field. Generally, two methods are used for raising seedlings: hole making or tray planting. In order to drain water in time during July and August when rainfall is high, the seedbed needs to be built into a raised bed about 20 cm above the ground.

Sowing method

Before sowing, you need to build an arch shed and prepare plastic film. Once it rains heavily, you can cover it in time to avoid reducing the emergence rate due to rain erosion. The seedling medium can be made of 40% peat soil and 60% perlite, and the soil can be disinfected and insecticidal with furadan to reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests. Before sowing, you need to spray the soil thoroughly with water, and then sow the seeds directly on it. The covering depth should be just enough to cover the seeds. There is no need to water again after sowing. At a temperature of around 15-20℃, seedlings will emerge in about a week.

Things to note when growing kale

Transplantation is usually carried out when the seedlings grow 4-5 true leaves, and planting is carried out in mid-to-late November, and generally 3-5 transplants are required. Kale can be transplanted bare-root. Peeling off the outer layer of old leaves when planting not only highlights the color of the heart leaves, but also reduces water consumption, prompting the plant to resume growth as soon as possible.

Kale likes fertilizer and has a greater demand for nitrogen fertilizer in the early stages of growth, so more topdressing is needed to ensure adequate nutrient supply. When planting, prepare sufficient basal fertilizer. Top dressing can be started about one week after transplanting the seedlings. As the climate turns cooler in autumn, the growth rate accelerates and the nutrient absorption increases. At this time, we should also pay attention to providing sufficient water and fertilizer. Stop applying nitrogen fertilizer when the plants begin to change color. If there is insufficient fertilizer, the outer leaves will turn yellow and fall off.