How to grow ornamental kale in pots? Cultivation methods and key technical points
Today, there are many cabbage varieties on the market, and along with them the horticultural variety ornamental kale also comes in rich and colorful hues, with the whole plant shaped like a peony, so it has relatively high ornamental value. As people's aesthetic standards rise, this horticultural variety of ornamental kale has also become an excellent choice for indoor and garden potted foliage plants. Below, the editor will combine ornamental kale pictures to explain the potted cultivation techniques for ornamental kale.
[Plant Profile]
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Chinese name:Ornamental kale
Scientific name:Brassica oleracea
Aliases:Leaf peony, peony cabbage, flower cabbage, green leafy kale
Family:Brassicaceae
Genus:Brassica
Origin and distribution:Native to the Mediterranean coast to Asia Minor, now widely cultivated, mainly distributed in temperate regions. Grown more extensively in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States, with diverse varieties. The history of introduction and cultivation in our country is not long, especially ornamental kale, which has only been planted in small quantities in the last dozen years or so, and is only distributed in large and medium-sized cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
Morphological characteristics:The ornamental kale plant is tall with a well-developed root system, mainly distributed in the 30 cm deep plow layer. The stem is shortened and densely covered with leaves. The leaves are thick, obovate, covered with a waxy bloom, deeply wavy and wrinkled, bird-feather-shaped, and attractive. The inflorescence is a raceme, insect-pollinated, the fruit is a silique, flat and round, the seeds are spherical, brown, with a thousand-seed weight of about 4 grams.
How to grow ornamental kale?
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◆ Growth habits: Cool climate, extremely cold-hardy, can tolerate multiple brief frosts, also quite heat-tolerant, strong growth vigor, easy to cultivate, likes sunlight, tolerant of saline-alkali soil, prefers fertile soil. The optimum growth temperature is 20°C-25°C, and the suitable temperature for seed germination is 18°C-25°C.
◆ Environmental requirements: Ornamental kale likes sufficient light; insufficient light leads to thin, weak growth.
◆ Pests and diseases: Many diseases occur at the seedling stage, and pests increase after potting. Seedling damping-off (can be controlled with chlorothalonil or dexon, while root rot can be controlled with thiophanate-methyl); pests mainly include aphids and cabbage caterpillars (generally use pyrethrins or methamidophos for comprehensive control to ensure the leaf surface remains intact).
◆ Watering: After planting water, cultivate the soil; after 5-6 days water to help the seedlings recover; when the soil is slightly dry, cultivate and loosen the soil to raise soil temperature and promote growth. After that, keep the soil moist regularly, without waterlogging in summer. Apply appropriate topdressing during the growing period, and apply fertilizer once after each harvest.
◆ Potting soil: The potted yuanbao tree should always keep the potting soil moist, but there must be no waterlogging; the relative humidity of the environment is best kept above 80%, maintaining a moist potting soil environment.
◆ Soil: It has strong adaptability to soil, but humus-rich, fertile sandy loam or clay loam is most suitable.
◆ Fertilization: Ornamental kale is a plant that needs fertilizer and water, so the choice of medium when planting is very important. Generally, several media that are loose, breathable, water-retaining, and fertilizer-retaining are mixed together. Organic fertilizer such as chicken manure can be appropriately added to the substrate as a base fertilizer. During the growing period, generally use 200 ppm of a 20:10:20 fertilizer, applied once every 7 days.
◆ Temperature: The optimum temperature for seed germination is 18°C-25°C, and the optimum temperature for plant growth is 20°C-25°C. It can grow in summer high temperatures of 35°C, but leaves harvested in the hot season have poorer flavor, harder leaf texture, and more fiber.
◆ Cultivation management: Choose nutrient pots of 14 cm or more for flower pots, with a pot spacing of about 35 cm for open-air planting. No pinching is needed. The color-changing period of ornamental kale is from the end of October to early November.
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Potted techniques for ornamental kale
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[Sowing and seedling raising]Ornamental kale seeds number 250-400 per gram. In the Yangtze River basin, sowing is generally done around the Start of Autumn, mainly used as flowers for "New Year's Day" and "Spring Festival." Sowing uses a loose, breathable, water-retaining artificial medium, sown in protected areas. Mainly to prevent heavy rain and sun exposure. The medium requires a pH of about 6 and an EC value of about 0.6, and needs disinfection treatment. After sowing, keep the seedbed temperature at about 24°C; sprouting occurs in 3 days, and seedlings are complete in 5 days.
Stage①:Two days after sowing, the radicle emerges. At this time, maintain the humidity of the seedbed; water with a mist spray to moisten the seedbed, prevent sun exposure and heavy rain attacks, and do not fertilize. Keep the temperature at about 24°C.
Stage ②:Generally after three days, the cotyledons unfold, and the main root can reach 2 cm. At this time, maintain the seedbed temperature and provide a certain amount of light to prevent the occurrence of leggy seedlings. After about five days, all seedlings have emerged and true leaves have grown, the root system has grown to about 4 cm, and the seedling height is also 4 cm. At this time, a light water-soluble fertilizer (20-10-20, 50 ppm) can be appropriately applied.
Stage ③:In this period, the seedlings have entered a rapid growth stage; light should be sufficient, and the seedbed should also maintain a certain dryness to prevent the occurrence of leggy seedlings and diseases. If the sowing density is too high, thinning can be done during this period. A 100 ppm water-soluble fertilizer of 20-10-20 and 14-0-14 can be used alternately, once a week.
Stage ④:At this stage, the plant already has 4-6 true leaves and the plant has taken shape. At this time, measures such as strengthening ventilation, supplementing light, and controlling moisture should be taken to prevent the plant from becoming leggy and to promote healthy seedlings.
Landscape application
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Ornamental kale is a major flower variety in winter, with very rich applications; it is mainly used in flower beds, and can also be planted in combination in large pots, or used in small pots with multiple plants. Due to different varieties, ornamental kale has rich and varied leaf colors, and leaf shapes also differ; leaf margins come in colors such as purple-red, green, red, and pink, and leaf surfaces come in colors such as pale yellow and green. The whole plant is shaped like a peony, so ornamental kale is also vividly called "leaf peony."
Ornamental value
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In the East China region, it is an important material for winter flower beds. Its ornamental period is long and its leaf color is extremely vivid. In parks, on streets, and in flower beds, ornamental kale is commonly used for edging and forming various beautiful patterns, used for arranging flower beds, with very high ornamental effect. Its leaf colors are diverse, including pale red, purple-red, white, yellow, etc., making it an excellent choice for potted foliage. At present, Europe, America, and Japan use some ornamental kale varieties for fresh-cut flower sales.
Edible value
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Ornamental kale is rich in nutrition, containing large amounts of vitamins A, C, B2 and various minerals, especially high in calcium, iron, and potassium. Among them, the vitamin C content is very high, with vitamin C content in every 100 grams of tender leaves reaching 153.6-220 mg, comparable to broccoli among cabbages.
Ornamental kale can be continuously harvested by stripping leaves, and continuously produces new tender leaves. Its tender leaves can be stir-fried, served as a cold dish, or made into soup. In Europe and America, it is mostly paired with various vegetables to make salads. The flavor is fresh and clear, and it maintains a beautiful emerald green after cooking.
Conclusion:In many cases, due to limited household space conditions, many families growing ornamental kale find that buying ornamental kale seeds for planting gives the best ornamental effect, but most flower seed dealers have a minimum package of over a hundred seeds, and ten or eight seeds cannot be purchased. For those enthusiasts, they have no choice but to buy finished ornamental kale potted flowers directly from flower markets to enjoy. Although this can save a lot of trouble, for many flower growers it means they cannot experience the fun and sense of achievement of sowing, raising seedlings, potting and caring, and finally growing a finished product, which is somewhat regrettable. So after understanding the basic information about ornamental kale, why not try it yourself!
Potted cultivation techniques for ornamental kale
Today, there are many cabbage varieties on the market, and along with them the horticultural variety ornamental kale also comes in rich and colorful hues, with the whole plant shaped like a peony, so it has relatively high ornamental value. As people's aesthetic standards rise, this horticultural variety of ornamental kale has also become an excellent choice for indoor and garden potted foliage plants. Below, the editor will combine ornamental kale pictures to explain the potted cultivation techniques for ornamental kale.
[Plant Profile]
——————————————————————————————————————
Chinese name:Ornamental kale
Scientific name:Brassica oleracea
Aliases:Leaf peony, peony cabbage, flower cabbage, green leafy kale
Family:Brassicaceae
Genus:Brassica
Origin and distribution:Native to the Mediterranean coast to Asia Minor, now widely cultivated, mainly distributed in temperate regions. Grown more extensively in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States, with diverse varieties. The history of introduction and cultivation in our country is not long, especially ornamental kale, which has only been planted in small quantities in the last dozen years or so, and is only distributed in large and medium-sized cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
Morphological characteristics:The ornamental kale plant is tall with a well-developed root system, mainly distributed in the 30 cm deep plow layer. The stem is shortened and densely covered with leaves. The leaves are thick, obovate, covered with a waxy bloom, deeply wavy and wrinkled, bird-feather-shaped, and attractive. The inflorescence is a raceme, insect-pollinated, the fruit is a silique, flat and round, the seeds are spherical, brown, with a thousand-seed weight of about 4 grams.
How to grow ornamental kale?
——————————————————————————————————————
◆ Growth habits: Cool climate, extremely cold-hardy, can tolerate multiple brief frosts, also quite heat-tolerant, strong growth vigor, easy to cultivate, likes sunlight, tolerant of saline-alkali soil, prefers fertile soil. The optimum growth temperature is 20°C-25°C, and the suitable temperature for seed germination is 18°C-25°C.
◆ Environmental requirements: Ornamental kale likes sufficient light; insufficient light leads to thin, weak growth.
◆ Pests and diseases: Many diseases occur at the seedling stage, and pests increase after potting. Seedling damping-off (can be controlled with chlorothalonil or dexon, while root rot can be controlled with thiophanate-methyl); pests mainly include aphids and cabbage caterpillars (generally use pyrethrins or methamidophos for comprehensive control to ensure the leaf surface remains intact).
◆ Watering: After planting water, cultivate the soil; after 5-6 days water to help the seedlings recover; when the soil is slightly dry, cultivate and loosen the soil to raise soil temperature and promote growth. After that, keep the soil moist regularly, without waterlogging in summer. Apply appropriate topdressing during the growing period, and apply fertilizer once after each harvest.
◆ Potting soil: The potted yuanbao tree should always keep the potting soil moist, but there must be no waterlogging; the relative humidity of the environment is best kept above 80%, maintaining a moist potting soil environment.
◆ Soil: It has strong adaptability to soil, but humus-rich, fertile sandy loam or clay loam is most suitable.
◆ Fertilization: Ornamental kale is a plant that needs fertilizer and water, so the choice of medium when planting is very important. Generally, several media that are loose, breathable, water-retaining, and fertilizer-retaining are mixed together. Organic fertilizer such as chicken manure can be appropriately added to the substrate as a base fertilizer. During the growing period, generally use 200 ppm of a 20:10:20 fertilizer, applied once every 7 days.
◆ Temperature: The optimum temperature for seed germination is 18°C-25°C, and the optimum temperature for plant growth is 20°C-25°C. It can grow in summer high temperatures of 35°C, but leaves harvested in the hot season have poorer flavor, harder leaf texture, and more fiber.
◆ Cultivation management: Choose nutrient pots of 14 cm or more for flower pots, with a pot spacing of about 35 cm for open-air planting. No pinching is needed. The color-changing period of ornamental kale is from the end of October to early November.
【More plant encyclopedia】
What is the per-mu yield of ornamental kale? How profitable is growing ornamental kale?
Ornamental kale can be called a variety of vegetable cabbage. It has a novel and unique appearance, plus its rich and colorful leaf colors, so it is often used by people as an ornamental potted plant. Of course, it is also very widely used in landscaping, and also has a certain edible value. It is this large market demand that drives its economic benefits.
What is the per-mu yield of ornamental kale?
Ornamental kale is a fruit and vegetable plant with high economic and ornamental value, with large usage and relatively widespread cultivation. In recent years, ornamental kale has developed rapidly. Because of high planting returns and low cost, it has been pursued by many people. The total cost is about 2,000 yuan, and under normal circumstances, through normal management, the per-mu yield of ornamental kale can reach 2,500-4,000 kg.
How profitable is growing ornamental kale?
Growing ornamental kale is the same as growing other crops; the advantage lies in low cost and large profit. And most importantly, it is not only used as a vegetable for this one purpose; it also belongs to ornamental cruciferous flowers, so it is often used by people as the first choice for home decoration.
Ornamental kale is a biennial herbaceous flower plant, and it likes cool conditions, has strong cold resistance, and is not strict about soil. In winter, when most crops cannot survive, ornamental kale is an exception, which is very advantageous for growers. It is estimated that ornamental kale requires a total input cost of about 2,000 yuan per mu, and under normal circumstances, through normal management, the per-mu yield of ornamental kale can reach 2,500-4,000 kg. Calculated at the current market price of 2-4 yuan/kg, the per-mu income is about 5,000-16,000 yuan, with a profit of about 3,000-14,000 yuan.
Cutting methods and precautions for ornamental kale
I. Cutting methods for ornamental kale
First, according to your own needs, determine the number of cuttings, prepare the potting soil, and choose a clean flower pot and soil. River sand or perlite is best for the soil; disinfect it and set it aside.
Then prune the cuttings. After cutting off the tillers of ornamental kale, keep 3 or 4 leaves on each bud, and then proceed with cutting.
Finally, when cutting, pay attention to the cutting density; leaves should not overlap. After cutting, water first, then place the flower pot in a cool place, and water according to the condition of the cuttings to ensure they do not wilt. Basically, cuttings of ornamental kale can take root in about a week, and can be transplanted in half a month.
II. Precautions for cutting ornamental kale
1. Generally, after cutting off the cuttings, the remaining plant can continue to be cultivated to grow multi-headed ornamental kale plants, and can also be made into old-stump bonsai.
2. Cutting in June can produce ornamental kale cut flowers. If not cutting, the tillers can be allowed to continue growing, which is also fine.
3. If ornamental kale is placed in a bottle, it also roots easily, and can be displayed for a long time indoors with relatively bright light.
What varieties of ornamental kale are there?
Flowering ornamental kale
The plant shape is elegant, easy to cultivate, and the ornamental period is long; it can also be enjoyed in winter. It has high ornamental value and is an important material for flower bed arrangement. It can also be used for potted ornamental display and as cut flower decoration. The sowing time is from mid-July to early August, planting out is done in mid-to-late August, and the ornamental period is in November-December.
Dongfang Lvnenn
This variety has characteristics such as heat and cold tolerance, fertilizer tolerance, late bolting, and a long harvest period. It can be cultivated in open fields in spring and autumn and in greenhouses or cold frames in winter. It generally takes 50 days from sowing to harvest, with high yield.
Apeida
Medium height, blue-green leaf color, relatively large degree of curling, neat and elegant appearance, excellent quality, and extremely strong stress resistance. It can not only be used for open-field cultivation in spring and autumn, but can also be cultivated in protected areas in winter.
From the above, it can be seen that the economic benefits of ornamental kale are still good, but not everyone who grows it can make money. If you want good benefits from ornamental kale, you need to master its high-yield techniques. When growing ornamental kale, you need to understand its growth habits, plant at the right time, and strengthen field management later. Only by doing these well will ornamental kale grow well and have high yield.