communion is caring !
A few years ago , I was win over you call for a sprawling backyard and a twosome of boilersuit to grow your own veggies .
Turns out , that ’s total falderol .
you could absolutely grow beautiful , leafy kale on your small apartment balcony — no overall required ( though I wo n’t stop you if that ’s your thing ) .
I inhabit in a small apartment with a balcony just big enough for a chair , a sad - look plant , and my unrealistic dreams of a veg hobo camp . But one twenty-four hour period , I figured , why not give container veggie gardening a snap ?
pamperer : it worked .
And now I ’m here to pass along what I ’ve learned about growing kale from seed in container , in hopes you ’ll get hooked too .
Why Kale?
First off , kale is a champion . It ’s ludicrously problematical , thrives in container , and does n’t need fancy soil or constant babysitting .
Plus , it ’s a nutritional powerhouse .
According to theUSDA Food Data , one loving cup of hack kale has more vitamin C ( 95.5 atomic number 12 ) than an orangeness ( 58 mg ) . I ’m not saying you should give up citrus , but kail deserves some balcony real land .
What You’ll Need
full news : no complicated gardening gadgets here . To get part , you ’ll demand :
Seeds vs. Nursery-Grown Seedlings
You ’ve basically catch two options when it comes to start up your kale : growing kale from germ or buying youthful plants from a nursery .
I ’m team cum because they ’re cheaper , fun to grow , and you get way more plants for your money . Plus , watching semen sprout is bizarrely solid .
That say , if you ’re impatient or nervous about the seedling leg , grabbing a few goodish , greenhouse - grown seedlings is totally fine . They give you a oral sex startle , and you’re able to usually harvest a routine rather .
Either way works great for container vegetable gardening on the balcony .
How to Grow Kale from Seeds
One hebdomad after the kale seed germinated
Alright , now for the fun part . Here ’s what worked for me :
In about a calendar week , you should see diminutive immature sprouts . It ’s weirdly electrifying . I may have texted three hoi polloi the first clip mine popped up .
Thinning the Seedlings
After thinning and transplanting to other raft
Okay , this part ’s of import and a little toughened if you ’re like me and hate getting rid of plants . Once your kale sprouts are about 2 in tall , you ’ll need to melt off them out .
That means pulling out the redundant ones so there ’s about 6 - 8 inches of space between each flora .
It sense harsh , but trust me — overcrowded plants struggle for H2O , nutrient , and light , and none of them cease up thriving . Think of it as giving your potent little guys a bonny shot at turning into large , leafy peach .
Watering: The Balancing Act
Watering might vocalize canonic , but it makes or breaks container gardens . On a small flat balcony , your containers dry out out way faster than an in - earth garden . I check mine day by day by flummox a finger into the soil .
If the top inch feel dry , it ’s metre to weewee .
Kale likes consistent moisture , but it hates waterlogged , waterlogged roots . direct for a Goldilocks situation — not too dry , not too pixilated . On hot days , you might take to water every 24-hour interval . On coolheaded , clouded ones , every other day usually does the joke .
Watch Out for Pests and Diseases
Even on a balcony , cuss somehow find their mode to your plants . The big three I ’ve dealt with are :
Leaf miners ' print on the leave-taking
short pests that leave squiggly trails inside the leaves . I just cut back off any affected leaves and thrash them .
Tiny dark-green , black , or white bug that bunch up on new growth . A immediate blast of water system usually knocks them off .
Talking of aphid , I ’ve written an excellent article onhow to get free of aphid naturally . You may want to check it out .
Kale leaf infect with Powdery Mildew
A ashen , moth-eaten coating on leave , especially if air circulation is pathetic . Avoid overhead watering and give your industrial plant some ventilation room .
If things get sorry , a mix of water and a drop of dish soap in a spraying nursing bottle can aid . Organic neem oil spray is also a solid choice for both plague and mold .
Harvesting Your Kale
Once your kale parting are about the size of your palm , you’re able to start harvest home .
Always pick the proscribed parting first and leave the middle ones to keep get . This way , your plant keeps develop young leaves , and you get a unfluctuating supply of jet for weeks ( sometimes calendar month ) .
I usually snaffle a few leaves every few days for salads , soup , or to mouse into sweet talker . If you ’ve never had kale poker chip straight from a plant you grow yourself , you ’re in for a treat .
A Few Pro Tips: How to Care for Your Kale
Why Container Vegetable Gardening Is Awesome
Besides the whole “ I grew this with my own hand ” feeling , growing vegetable on your balcony saves a surprising amount of money over time .
A packet of seed costs a few clam , and one container can give you fresh greens for month .
And if you ’re like me , stuck in an flat with no yard , container vegetable horticulture scratch that urge to mature something without needing a lawn or a raised bed .
It ’s oddly meditative , too .
There ’s something about watching those little leaves unfurl while you sip your morning coffee bean that just feels good .
If it helps , here ’s a list of othervegetables that are easy to grow for beginners .
Conclusion
If you ’ve been dally with the idea of growing your own food but feel like your minuscule apartment balcony was n’t up to the chore , I ’m here to tell you it totally is . Kale ’s an leisurely , forgiving , and truly utilitarian place to start .
Give it a shot .
tough - case scenario : you spent a few clam , got some fresh melodic phrase , and learned a trivial about plant life . ripe case ? You ’ll be snipping your own invigorated leafy Green in a few workweek and feel smug every time you pass the overprice kale at the grocery store .
And hey — if you sample it , have me recognise how it goes .
