How To Grow Hydroponic Kale

Should You Learn How To Grow Kale Hydroponically?

Growing kale hydroponically can be a great way to produce large quantities of this nutritious leafy green, even if you don’t have access to outdoor garden space.

Since kale is a cool season crop and grows best in temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, hydroponic systems can offer consistent environmental conditions all year round.

Furthermore, growing kale hydroponically allows you to take advantage of ample light indoors, which can boost its flavor and nutritional value - both of which are usually diminished by outdoor cultivation.

What Are The Benefits Of Growing Kale Hydroponically?

The benefits of growing kale hydroponically are plentiful. Hydroponic gardening can yield healthy and nutrient-dense crops, which makes it well worth the effort. Kale is an incredibly nutritious vegetable, and when grown by hydroponic methods, it is no exception.

The vegetables themselves retain many of the same rich nutrients as their traditionally grown counterparts. Additionally, kale grown in this way produces faster crop cycles than those planted in soil, making it a great choice for gardeners who don’t have a lot of time to wait around for produce.

Hydroponically-grown kale requires less maintenance than that grown traditionally. This is because hydroponics does not need to take into account weather patterns like a conventional garden does.

It also prevents some pests from infiltrating your crop due to its contained environment and lack of soil, meaning less work for you in the long run when it comes to pest prevention and management.

Furthermore, its contained environment allows for more accurate control of water temperature levels and nutrient input that can help produce larger, more robust harvests.

How Long Does It Take To Grow Kale Hydroponically?

Growing kale hydroponically can be a rewarding experience, as it allows for year-round growth of nutrient rich and tasty greens. If you are looking to harvest baby or microgreens from your hydroponic kale plants, you should expect to see them ready within a few weeks.

This timeframe can vary depending on the type of system used and how well maintained it is. Once the greens have developed enough (the pre-harvest stage) they can be harvested and enjoyed right away, with no soil required!

On the other hand, if you decide to grow complete mature plants rather than just microgreens, you will need to give yourself around three months before they are ready to harvest. 

How To Grow Kale Hydroponically - Step By Step Guide

Are you eager to embark on your journey to cultivate kale hydroponically? Great! Here is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide that will provide you with all the necessary information to successfully grow kale using hydroponic methods. Let's get started!

Start By Choosing The Best System For Growing Kale Hydroponically

Growing kale hydroponically has become increasingly popular in recent years, thanks to its superior flavor and nutritional value as compared to traditional soil-grown produce.

Hydroponics systems use a nutrient-rich water solution instead of soil, allowing for faster growth with less water and fewer pests or disease. When selecting a system for growing kale hydroponically, there are several factors to consider, including substrate materials, light levels, and nutrient management.

One of the most popular systems is a Deep Water Culture (DWC) system in which plants are suspended in net pots filled with an inert medium such as clay pebbles or perlite, and their roots are submerged directly into a nutrient-rich water solution held in a reservoir below.

This method requires constant oxygenation using either air stones or air pumps so that roots get adequate oxygen supply throughout the day.

Another system is Ebb & Flow (aka flood and drain) which involves using nutrient-rich water supplied by either hand-watering or an automated timer and then flushing the excess back out of the root zone every few hours or so.

This allows for more even distribution of nutrients throughout the entire root zone, making it ideal for steady growth of kale plants over time.

How Do You Start Hydroponic Kale?

Starting a hydroponic kale garden is an easy project that can give you delicious and nutritious results with minimal effort. The first step is to select the seeds for your garden. Kale lends itself well to hydroponics since you can grow it from seeds or by cloning an existing kale plant.

Starting from seed is usually the most convenient option, but it's important to keep in mind that these cold-hardy seeds are best germinated at temperatures between 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit - although lower temperatures will result in fewer germination rates.

How Much Light Does Hydroponic Kale Need?

Growing kale hydroponically means that the plant is grown in a nutrient solution rather than soil, so you'll need to bear that in mind when it comes to lighting. Kale requires around six to ten hours of light each day, so an overhead grow light is your best option.

Fluorescent lighting can be used if necessary, but investing in a more energy-efficient LED lighting will provide the right amount of broad-spectrum illumination for optimum growth.

Whatever lighting you choose, it's important to make sure that there's enough space between the fixture and the plants so as not to damage them from too much heat.

Tips For Growing Hydroponic Kale Indoors

Growing hydroponic kale indoors can prove to be a challenging task, but with some preparation and ongoing maintenance, it's possible to have a successful harvest.

When creating your nutrient solution, make sure that you maintain the pH balance between 5.5 and 6.5, this will help prevent the leaves from burning due to too much nitrogen

To avoid needing too much light, reduce the amount of nitrogen and potassium when feeding your plants. It's important to replace your nutrient solution about once a week and test it every day for its pH level and electrical conductivity (EC).

Magnesium sulfate and calcium should also be added to the nutrient solution if not already included in it.

By following these helpful tips for growing hydroponic kale indoors, you'll be able to ensure that your plants receive the proper nutrition and are properly maintained for optimal growth. 

How To Harvest Your Hydroponic Kale

Harvesting hydroponic kale is a rewarding experience that can provide you with fresh, nutritious greens whenever you need them. The harvesting process begins as soon as 20-30 days after the seedlings have been transplanted into the hydroponic environment, when they will have grown enough to provide an initial harvest of baby kale which is much more tender but smaller in size than what it will produce as it matures over three to four months.

In order to ensure a continuous and unlimited supply of kale, it is important to not remove more than a third of the plant at each harvest; this way new growth can always replenish what’s been cut from the mature plants.

Final Thoughts On How To Grow Hydroponic Kale From Home

The process of growing hydroponic kale from home can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience. With the right preparation in advance, you're sure to get beautiful, leafy greens for your salads and other meals.

Before you begin, however, it's important to make sure that you have all of the necessary pieces of equipment required to successfully set up a hydroponic garden. Canada Grow Supplies is the perfect destination to find quality hydroponics gear with ease. 

Our selection includes everything from essential lighting systems to nutritious hydroponic nutrients tailored specifically to your needs as a hydroponic grower.