Basics
- Ease of Growing
- Easy
- Grown as
- Biennial
- Days to Maturity
- 50-65 (Spring/Summer), 70-85 (Fall/Winter)
- Growing Habit
- -
- Hardiness
- Hardy
This variety will keep growing and producing right through the winter in milder areas and can be extremely frost tolerant.
- Crops
- Spring Transplant, Spring, Fall Transplant, Fall
- Growing Season
- Short, Long
- Cultivar Type
- -
- Growing Conditions
- Cold, Cool, Warm
This variety grows well in both heat and cold. In mild climates it will continue growing right through the winter.
- Outdoor Growing Temp
- 0°F - 80°F
- Min Outdoor Soil Temp
- 45°F
Kale is pretty hardy and can go into the ground when it is still fairly cold. However it will germinate and grow faster in warmer soil.
- Start Indoors
- Yes
- Start Outdoors
- Yes
- Light
- Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool, Warm)
Kale will be most productive in full sun, though it will tolerate partial shade.
- Water
- Moderate
Kale must have plenty of water for maximum productivity and best quality.
- Feeder
- Heavy
Low nitrogen. Moderate potassium. Moderate phosphorous.
Kale has similar nutritional requirements as cabbage, in that it needs a significant amount of phosphorus and potassium but not a lot of nitrogen.
Early varieties require a higher soil fertility than mid or late-season varieties.
- Suitability
- Tolerates light frost, Tolerates hard frost, Partial shade, Needs summer shade
- Small Gardens?
- Yes
- Containers?
- Yes
You can grow a single kale plant in a one gallon pot or groups of plants in larger containers. Make sure that your container has drainage holes. Fill with a mixture of potting soil and compost and water thoroughly. In hot weather you should keep them out of direct sun.
- Attracts beneficial insects?
- No
- Color
- Green with a red tinge and purplish-red stems
- Fruit Size
- - "
- Plant Height
- 24.0 - 36.0"
- Plant Diameter
- 12.0 - 16.0"
- Hardiness Zone
- 3-11
- Disease Resistance
- Taste Profile
The Siberian varieties are more tender and better flavored than the Scotch kales. They aren't as hardy, however. Very young leaves can be used raw in salads though they are usually cooked (stems may be tough or not, depending upon circumstances). It is a biennial and in the second spring the flower buds can be used like broccoli.
- Rotation Group
- Leaves: Brassicas + Leafy Greens