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Leggy kale - salvageable?

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by Peter Thompson, Jun 3, 2018.

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  1. Peter Thompson

    Peter Thompson Apprentice Gardener

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    My kale has grown very well but sadly it's grown upwards instead of outwards. Is this because of the unseasonably hot weather perhaps?

    As you can see from the photo, it's very tall (~15 inches) and flowering. Is there any thing I can do to salvage it? Can I expect the leaves to start to fill out?

    TIA,
    P.

    [​IMG]
     
    Peter Thompson, Jun 3, 2018
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  2. Barb in Pa

    Barb in Pa Gardener

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    So my question for you is: Did you grow them from seeds? Also have you grown kale in that spot before?
     
    Barb in Pa, Jun 3, 2018
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  3. Peter Thompson

    Peter Thompson Apprentice Gardener

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    No and no.
     
    Peter Thompson, Jun 3, 2018
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  4. Barb in Pa

    Barb in Pa Gardener

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    So you bought seedlings from a store? Maybe it's just not sunny enough in that spot for Kale. I believe it will be too hot from now on to try to save these plants but the answer would be to cut them short. Plant more when the summer ends in fall in a different location and see if they do better...So sorry your little plants didn't do well for you..
     
    Barb in Pa, Jun 3, 2018
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  5. Peter Thompson

    Peter Thompson Apprentice Gardener

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    Thanks, yes I bought the plants form a garden centre. As regards being sunny enough, we've had unseasonably warm, sunny weather for the last few weeks so I'd be surprised if that were the problem. I will indeed try again at the end of the summer.
     
    Peter Thompson, Jun 3, 2018
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  6. Barb in Pa

    Barb in Pa Gardener

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    Good luck Peter...Keep us posted on the progress...
     
    Barb in Pa, Jun 3, 2018
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  7. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Not sure exactly what is going on, it was very dry now hot so that could have triggered flowering. Maybe the plants were not well looked after in the GC - usually Kale only flowers in it's second year depending on the variety so you could have been unlucky and bought some old plants from the GC.

    Once they start flowering they just keep on doing so at the expense of leaves. Snap off any flowering bits you see, if they are still in bud you can cook them same as broccoli.

    To be honest I'd give up with plants at that stage and start a second batch from seed.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
      JWK, Jun 4, 2018
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