OK - no one has responded to this so I will give it a whirl. I am growing some ornamental kale that I started from seed this spring, but its a different type, more vertical. From what I have read most ornamental kale doesnt get its real color unless its quite cool, best even after a frost or two. I dont think planting it deep is a good idea. generally only viney plants can be planted deeper. Cutting it back some will probably make it divide, but with the form of the type you have I dont think that it would look right. If there is a longish stalk with no leaves, it is probably because the grower, or seller cut off dead leaves from the bottom, it surprises me that at 12" it is not root bound. Its obviously been around for a while. I would just plant them as is and see what happens.

Could use several/an assortment of these. Still some nice species left on my trade-list to choose from! Private emails welcome ThoseDarnSqurls@aol.com

alidm, I am sure that you can keep it indoors "but I do not know for how long", quoting my doctor on the question 'will I live?'. Seriously, the plant thrives in full sun, nitogen and lots of water (like so many leaf crops). Indoors, under the reduced lighting, the watering and nitrogen ought to be cut back. I certainly would not allow the soil to dry out. It will "bolt" at which time the plant should be discarded.

Ok wow lol, First off in order to get true seeds you have to be careful with cross pollination. In other words if your 2 plants were to close to each other the seeds you may have collected may not be true like you want. This happens when you have 2 of the same kind but different varieties of the plants. I hope that made sense. Also if your kale is of a hybrid they for sure will not be true. Secondly, if the seed pods that were on your plants were still green when you cut them down then chances that they matured fully is very unlikely. Not only do the seed pods need to dry, but they need to dry or mature on a living plant. Thirdly if you have to hot of a greenhouse then germination may not be good at all. Germination takes place best at cooler weather like 60 to 75 degrees, if I am not mistaken. Fourthly I am not familiar with your kale, I have always heard of cabbage and kale with your pansies and violas and thought of them to be winter plants, so the best time to plant I couldnt tell ya on that one. Fithly I wouldnt know either on the plants surrounding your existing kale, but if there were seed pods that fell from the plant they may have reseeded. Just like I said previously though if your 2 different kale varietys were to closely planted though you probaly will not have true seeds. So its very likely that the seeds are from your plant that cross pollinated with the other one. You can always just watch and see what happens, alot of time seedlings look totally different than a mature plant. I hope that helps ya and Goodluck!!