Those tiny kale seedlings might look modest now, but don’t let them fool you! They eventually turn into massive, leafy powerhouses that need plenty of elbow room. If you crowd them too close together, they’ll end up fighting over nutrients, which stunts their growth and leaves you with a disappointing harvest.
Kale: Getting the Spacing Just Right
Kale plants can grow up to 20 inches tall (and just as wide!), so you’ve got to plan ahead when you’re out in the garden. Aim for a minimum spacing of about 16 to 20 inches between plants. But spacing isn’t the only thing to keep in mind—planting depth matters too. Make sure you sow your seeds at least an inch deep. Planting them a bit deeper actually makes it a little tougher for pests to get to them.
You also want to keep an eye on your crop rotation. Since kale is a “heavy feeder,” it gets super hungry and sucks a lot of nutrients out of the dirt, which can leave the soil pretty exhausted. To keep your garden healthy, give that patch of soil a three-year break before planting kale or any other brassicas (like broccoli or cabbage) in the same spot again. This gives the ground some much-needed time to recover!
