Kale used to be called the peasant’s cabbage. Now, it’s more like a wealthy Hollywood superstar’s cabbage.
Kale is a super healthy and nutrient-dense leafy green that can be grown easily indoors with the right conditions. Growing your own kale inside allows you to have fresh greens year-round
Choosing Kale Varieties for Indoor Growing
When selecting kale varieties to grow inside, it’s best to choose dwarf or container varieties that will stay more compact. Some top recommendations include:
-
Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch – Ruffled blue-green leaves, good for kale chips.
-
Lacinato – Also called Tuscan kale, dark green straplike leaves.
-
Redbor – Purple leaves with ruffled edges.
-
Red Russian – Blue-green flat leaves that are tender.
These varieties grow well indoors and have great flavor. Their smaller leaves are extra tender and sweet.
Providing the Right Growing Conditions
Kale grows best with:
-
Containers: Use pots that are at least 5 gallons or self-watering containers. This gives kale roots enough room.
-
Soil: A rich potting mix with nutrients. Avoid soil that is too dense.
-
Light: Kale needs at least 5 hours of direct sun daily or strong grow lights.
-
Temperature: Between 45-85°F. Cooler temps prevent bolting.
-
Water: Soil should stay consistently moist but not soggy. Self-watering pots help.
Starting Kale from Seeds
Starting from seeds is an easy way to get kale plants growing indoors. Here’s how:
-
Fill pot or tray with moist seed starting mix. Kale needs constant moisture to sprout.
-
Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch apart. Cover lightly with soil.
-
Expect sprouts in 4-7 days. Young seedlings need warmth (70°F is optimal).
-
Thin seedlings after 2-3 leaves. Leave the strongest, healthiest plant per pot.
-
Transplant into final pots after 4 true leaves or 8-10 inches tall.
Caring for Indoor Kale Plants
To keep your indoor kale healthy:
-
Water when soil dries out. Use a watering can or self-watering pots.
-
Fertilize monthly with a nitrogen-rich organic plant food.
-
Prune outer leaves regularly so inner leaves keep growing.
-
Monitor for pests like aphids or fungi. Treat organically if found.
-
Keep temps cool to prevent bolting – window locations work well.
-
Rotate plants under grow lights to ensure even light exposure.
Harvesting Indoor Kale
-
Always pick outer and lower leaves first for mature plants.
-
Use scissors to cut leaves at the stem. Leave at least 1/3 of leaves intact.
-
Harvest outer leaves of seedling trays once they reach 4-5 inches tall.
-
Pick leaves when young and tender for best flavor – they get bitter when too large.
-
Stagger planting times for a continual harvest.
Tips for Success Growing Kale Indoors
Follow these tips to get a productive kale crop indoors:
-
Give kale at least 5 hours of sun or strong grow lights (6500K LEDs).
-
Use self-watering containers to maintain consistent moisture.
-
Add organic liquid fertilizer each month to fuel growth.
-
Grow in cool areas around 60-75°F to prevent bolting.
-
Start new seeds every 2-3 weeks for a steady supply of leaves.
-
Harvest outer leaves regularly so inner leaves keep producing.
-
Prune any flowering stalks ASAP to prolong leaf production.
-
Check for pests like aphids – treat quickly to avoid spreading.
With the right setup, kale can grow extremely well year-round indoors. Focus on providing adequate sunlight, regulating temperatures, and maintaining even moisture. Harvest leaves regularly and fertilize monthly. Stagger sowing seeds for a continual supply of homegrown kale. Growing kale inside takes a bit of effort but provides fresh greens all season long.
Can you Grow Kale Indoors? Preparing your Planter & Watering Schedule for Kale
Yes, you can grow kale indoors. Kale plants do well in moist soil conditions. If the soil dries out all the way, the roots will die back, making it hard for the plant to grow back. On the other hand, if the roots are exposed to standing water for too long, they can rot.
A ceramic self-watering planter filled with regular potting mix will keep the soil at the right level of moisture for your plant to grow, so you don’t have to guess how much to water.
To set one up:
- Put dry soil from the bag into the planter and press down gently on top.
- Put the dirt into a big bowl. Then, add water until the dirt is damp, but not drenched (about ½ cup).
- Mix in 1 tablespoon of the Balanced Blend Plant Food.
You can use a regular pot instead, but it needs to be at least 12 inches (5 gal) in diameter and have holes in it to drain water so it doesn’t get too wet. Let the top of the soil dry out between watering.
Kale Indoor Growing: Week 5 – How to Prune Kale
There is a single point in the middle of kale where all the stems and leaves grow. This is called radial growth. New leaves grow in the middle, and old leaves are pushed outward. Over time, the plant gets bigger and bushier. Pruning and harvesting are one-in-the-same with Kale. At least three separate stems should grow from the plant’s base. Cut one of the outside leaves close to the base (½” above is fine). It’s good to leave at least 2/3rds of the plant left to regrow.
How To Grow Kale Indoors – Also My Favorite LED Grow Light – Off Grid Living
How to grow kale seeds?
After deciding on how many kale plants you want to grow, count out two or three seeds for each one. Put all the seeds in a little container full of water and soak for approximately 6 hours. Fill each tray part or container with 3–4 inches of the growing mix. Moisten the mix with a bit of water. 2. Plant the Kale Seeds
How long does Kale take to grow?
Kale has a relatively fast growth rate and grows from seed to harvest in about **three months** .If you plan to take cuttings, it will take about **one month** for the cuttings to mature .
How to grow Kale indoors?
Therefore, the best way to grow kale indoors is with LED lights set up directly above it. This method helps when you start growing kale indoors to produce healthy leaves faster than growing in sunlight through a south-facing window alone! If you’re using grow lights, keep kale plants around 2-5 inches away at all times for best results.
How do you grow Kale in a container?
Prepare your containers with 12 to 16-inch-wide and equally tall drainage holes for each kale plant. If you want to grow more than one plant in a container, be sure to plant them 16 inches apart for air circulation and space to spread. Fill your containers with the growing mix or potting soil until they’re ¾ full.