Kale Scarlet is a unique Kale variety featuring vibrant red and green leaves that add color and texture to the vegetable garden. With a sweet, earthy flavor and a more tender texture than other kale varieties, Scarlet Kale excels raw in salads, smoothies, and as a garnish. The mature plants reach 24-36" tall and 12-18" wide, a perfect size for small gardens, containers, and raised beds. Kale flourishes in well-drained soil with full sun or partial shade and regular water and fertilizing. This variety resists pests and is a low-maintenance choice for gardeners. Add a colorful, nutritious option for your customers' vegetable gardens by growing Kale Scarlet seedling plugs! For a more all-purpose variety, try Kale Prizm.
Kale Scarlet Selling Tips
Sell Kale Scarlet to customers looking to add a pop of color to their vegetable garden. This variety of Kale offers a compact and bushy growth habit, with a delicious nutty flavor and hearty texture that makes it ideal for various culinary uses, whether raw, roasted, sautéed, or in soup. Its compact size makes it perfect for small gardens and containers, and customers will love its ability to thrive in various growing conditions. Create a diverse long-season greens garden by planting Scarlet Kale alongside other varieties like Toscano, Prizm, and Winterbor.
Coach Your Customer
1. Plant seedlings 12-18" apart in rows 18-36" apart in full sun or partial shade in a well-draining soil amended with compost.
2. Kale Scarlet needs regular watering, especially during dry spells. Water at the base of the plant, and don't allow the soil to dry completely.
3. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced fertilizer to help the plants grow strong and produce plenty of delicious greens.
4. Harvest outer leaves when large and firm, about 25-45 days after transplanting. Leave the center leaves to continue growing.
5. Watch out for aphids, cabbage worms, cutworms, flea beetles, and slugs in the garden, and use organic control measures as needed.
6. Use companion planting to deter pests, attract beneficial insects, and improve the soil. Kale does well alongside Basil, Parsley, Marigolds, Beets, Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Peas.
General Growing Tips For Your Seedling Tray
For best results with Kale Scarlet, plant one seedling plug per 1801 cell or 4-inch container. Use a well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0, EC of 1.0-1.5, medium feed (150-200 ppm N), and temperatures of 60-70°F. You may see aphids, caterpillars, and whiteflies. Clubroot, Downy Mildew, Alternaria Leaf Spot, Bacterial Soft Rot, and Cercospora Leaf Spot can affect Kale. Pinch once and provide full sun for at least eight hours a day.
Flowering
Kale is a biennial plant that flowers in its second year of growth if left to bolt. A tall stem grows from the center of the plant, producing small yellow flowers and seeds if left to mature. Grow Kale annually for culinary use.
Pinching
Pinch once when the plant is 6-8" tall to encourage bushier growth and control height.
Spacing
We recommend spacing Kale Scarlet in 1801s or 4-inch containers about 4-6" apart to give each plant enough room to develop and to provide proper air circulation and light penetration.
Height Control
Provide proper fertilizer, lighting, and temperatures to maintain bushy, compact plants. Pinching will also control height, helping to prevent tall, leggy growth. We don't recommend using chemical growth regulators on vegetable or herb plants.
Pests
You may see several pests that affect Kale in your greenhouse. Be sure to scout for aphids, cabbage loopers, diamondback moths, cutworms, flea beetles, and whiteflies.
1. Aphids feed on plant sap and cause leaves to wilt and yellow. Use a strong spray of water or an insecticide to control aphids.
2. Cabbage Loopers are caterpillars that feed on kale leaves, causing large holes in the foliage. To control cabbage loopers, use row covers or apply Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) insecticide.
3. The larvae of Diamondback Moths can cause significant damage to Kale foliage. Take action immediately to prevent this moth from destroying your crops. Use row covers or apply an insecticide labeled for Diamondback Moths.
4. Cutworms feed on the stems of young kale seedlings, causing them to fall over. Use collars made from cardboard or paper around seedling stems.
5. Flea Beetles can cause holes in Kale leaves. Use row covers or apply an insecticide labeled for flea beetles.
6. Whiteflies feed on plant sap, causing leaves to yellow. Control whitefly infestations with sticky yellow traps or an insecticide labeled for whiteflies.
Disease
A few diseases may affect Kale in your greenhouse. Practice good sanitation and implement carefully planned Integrated Pest Management. Prevent the spread of diseases in your commercial greenhouse by removing infected leaves, providing proper airflow, and watering the base of each plant.
1. Clubroot is a soil-borne disease that causes plant roots to become distorted and swollen, reducing the plant's ability to absorb water and nutrients.
2. Downy Mildew causes yellowing of the leaves and a white, downy growth on the undersides.
3. Alternaria Leaf Spot causes circular, brown spots on the leaves, which can eventually turn into necrotic patches.
4. Bacterial Soft Rot causes the leaves to turn yellow and the stems to become soft and mushy.
5. Cercospora Leaf Spot causes small, circular, reddish-brown spots on the leaves, which can expand and merge to form larger, necrotic patches.
Planting Kale Scarlet Liners
We recommend planting one seedling plug per 1801 cell or 4-inch container. Use well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepot in the center of the container. Water the plant after transplant and grow it in full sun.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Kale Scarlet Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 4-5 Weeks |
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| Bloom Period | Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter |
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| Habit | Upright |
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| Height | 24-36 inches |
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| Light | Full Sun, Partial Shade |
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| Minimum Temp | 50 |
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| Water Needs | Moderate |
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| Patented Plant | No |
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