Repotting guide

When & how to repot Walking Stick Kale (Brassica oleracea var. longata)

Also called walking stick kale, Jersey kale, tall tree kale, cow cabbage.

More about walking stick kale

About Walking Stick Kale

Brassica oleracea var. longata · also called walking stick kale, Jersey kale · edible

Walking stick kale, the Jersey cabbage, is a curiosity brassica that grows a tall, woody single stem 1.5-3 m high, traditionally dried and varnished into walking canes. Its young leaves are edible like ordinary kale and were historically used as cattle fodder. A long-season biennial, it needs a full growing year, firm staking and a sheltered, fertile site to reach its towering, top-heavy height.

Mature size: Commonly 1.5-2 m tall, exceptionally to 3 m or more under ideal conditions, with a leaf crown 45-60 cm across.

Watch for — Wind rock and toppling: The tall, top-heavy stem easily blows over and loosens its roots. Plant very firmly in a sheltered spot, earth up the base, and stake the stem securely as it grows.

How to tell walking stick kale needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For walking stick kale, watch for these signs:

Roots circling the bottom of the module or pot, or poking out of the drainage holes.
The seedling dries out within a day and growth has visibly stalled.
Roots are white and matted in a tight spiral when you tip the plant out.
It has outgrown its current container for the stage of the season — pot walking stick kale on before it becomes hard root-bound.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot walking stick kale

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Walking Stick Kaleis grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Tall, single-stemmed biennial brassica that elongates into a woody, palm-like trunk topped by a rosette of leaves; left a second year it flowers and sets seed..

What size pot to step walking stick kale up to

Pot walking stick kale on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot walking stick kale

Pot walking stick kale on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting walking stick kale

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check walking stick kale regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh deep, rich, firm, well-drained loam at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water walking stick kale in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for walking stick kale

Walking Stick Kale wants deep, rich, firm, well-drained loam. Deep, fertile, organic-rich soil with a very firm root run to anchor the tall stem. Slightly acidic to neutral pH 6.0-7.5; lime toward neutral to discourage clubroot. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting walking stick kale — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot walking stick kale?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for walking stick kale. Walking Stick Kale is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into deep, rich, firm, well-drained loam so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does walking stick kale need?

When is the best time of year to repot walking stick kale?

Can you put walking stick kale straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing walking stick kale should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise walking stick kale after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting walking stick kale. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.