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Legend
- Start Indoors
- Transplant
- Start Outdoors
- Care
- Harvest
- Succession Plant
Hardy leafy green great steamed, sauteed, braised, or used in soups, pastas
Kale grows quite well in warm weather, but so do lots of other potherbs. It really comes into its own in winter, as it can survive temperatures as low as 0 degree F (even lower under mulch). It will continue to produce food when most other crops are just frozen sticks. It can even be gathered from under the snow when frozen solid. Another benefit of kale is that it can be harvested repeatedly, often sending out new leaves for 6 months or more. Kale is a versatile green leafy vegetable that can be prepared in soups, pastas, steamed, sauteed or made into chips. It goes well with other vegetables, is complimented by garlic or onions, and makes an excellent side dish to serve with fish or meat.
Brassicaceae Brassica oleracea
This is an example of the timeline you would see based on your growing conditions.
Kale: Scotch
Kale
Scotch Kale, Brassica oleracea var acephala, is the most primitive of all the Brassicas and closest to the wild plant. It is famous for its cold tolerance and high nutritional value and was once an important staple food for European peasants.
Kale is a hardy green leafy vegetable harvested in late fall and winter. It develops its best flavor under cool growing conditions. It can also take some light frost allowing it to make it through mild winter weather.
Spring Kale will actually grow right through the summer, but doesn't taste as good when growing at higher temperatures. It is more tender and sweet in cold weather.
In mild climates, kale will continue to grow all winter without disruption and can be harvested continually for months (it will also be in peak condition in the cool weather).
Basics
- Ease of Growing
- Easy
- Grown as
- Biennial
- Days to Maturity
- 50-60 (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
- 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 if protected from severe cold and wind. Freezing weather enhances sweetness.
- 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
- 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
- Fruit Size
- - "
- Plant Height
- 24.0 - 36.0"
- Plant Diameter
- 12.0 - 16.0"
- Hardiness Zone
- 3-11
- Disease Resistance
- Taste Profile
- Rotation Group
- Leaves: Brassicas + Leafy Greens
Last Frost Date (LFD) refers to the approximate date of the last killing frost of spring.
Example first frost date on April 08.
First Frost Date (FFD) refers to the approximate date of the first killing frost of winter.
Example first frost date on November 01.
