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How to Grow Kale: The Complete Guide

Photo Credit
Beeldbewerking/GettyImages
Botanical Name
Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Plant Type
Vegetables
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Part Sun
Soil pH
Neutral to Slightly Alkaline
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Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Kale

Catherine Boeckmann
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Ever been told to “eat your greens?” Kale is one of the most nutritious vegetables you can grow. It’s crammed with vitamins and powerful antioxidants, and it tastes de-licious. Kale is a hardy cool-season crop that grows best in spring and fall, tolerating frost and even snow. Learn how to plant, grow, and harvest kale. 

About Kale

Kale is a cold-hardy, resilient, non-heading green. It’s one of the easiest members of the brassica family to grow (which includes cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and other common cole crops.)

A biennial (2-year) plant, kale produces leaves in the first year, and then, in the next year (or sometimes late in the first year), it will form a flower stalk. The stalk forms flowers and then seeds. Once the seeds mature, the plant dies.

Think beyond grocery store kale; there are so many amazing kale flavors and textures to choose from if you grow your own seed: mild, almost salad-like greens, sweet ‘Red Russian’ kales, or the nutty and sometimes peppery flavors of Italian kales, or handsome ‘Cavalo Nero’ or Tuscan kale, also called dinosaur kale because of its texture.

As well as being extremely nutritious, kale is attractive, coming in a stunning range of varieties, from bright greens to dark purples, crunchy leaves to crinkled beauties, and everything in between. Its ornamental value can be appreciated in traditional garden beds or containers, especially in the fall.

While easy to grow, there are a few crucial things to get right if you want to enjoy a truly bumper crop of health-boosting leaves. Read on for our guide to growing kale.

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Planting

Full sun and fertile, well-draining soil produce the fastest-growing and most tender leaves, though kale will tolerate partial shade as well. Add plenty of compost to the ground before planting, and if your soil isn’t especially rich, top up its fertility by working in nitrogen-rich amendments such as blood meal, cottonseed meal, or composted manure into the ground before planting.

When to Plant Kale

Kale tastes best when plants grow rapidly and mature before the heat of summer (before temperatures exceed 75°F/24°C) or after fall frosts occur. Young plants are not seriously damaged by temperatures down to 25°F/-4°C. Mature plants are extremely hardy and can withstand very cold temperatures. However, hot temperatures will slow growth and cause a bitter flavor.

  • For spring: Whether direct seeding into the soil or transplanting start plants from the nursery, you can plant 4 to 6 weeks before the average last spring frost. Seeds will germinate at soil temperatures as low as 40°F/4°C.
  • For fall: Select early maturing cultivars and direct-seed 3 months before the first fall frost date. Note: In areas with hot summers, you’ll need to delay sowing until temperatures start to cool off. The cool fall weather really brings out the sweet, nutty flavor of kale which can withstand hard frosts (25–28°F) without experiencing damage.
  • Kale can also be grown as a winter vegetable under cover or outside in mild winter regions, like the Southwest, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast. They’ll grow and yield all winter long. We suggest speaking to your local cooperative extension to determine if/when you should plant winter vegetables.

How to Plant Kale

  • When planting, add fertilizer (1-1/2 cups of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 25 feet of row) into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil. If you fertilize with compost, apply no more than 1 inch of well-composted organic matter per 100 square feet of garden area.
  • Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch deep, 1 inch apart, in rows 18 to 30 inches apart.
  • If you’re setting out young plants (transplants), plant them at the depth at which they are growing in the container, spaced 12 inches apart, in rows 18 to 30 inches apart.
  • After planting, water the plants well.

See our video for growing perfect kale every time!

Growing

  • After about 2 weeks, thin seedlings to 8 to 12 inches apart.
  • It’s important to keep kale well watered and fertilized. If rain is inconsistent, provide 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week (about 1 gallon per square foot).
  • Side-dress as needed with a high-nitrogen fertilizer.
  • Mulch the soil to keep down the weeds, retain moisture, and keep kale cool. Kale growth can slow if plants are stressed (too hot or cold, inadequate water, pests or disease).
  • To guarantee a supply of mature leaves through winter, mulch heavily after the first hard freeze.

Types

  • ‘Red Russian’ (or ‘Russian Red’):  heirloom; oak leaf-shape, gray-green leaves with deep-purple veins and stem; an early crop
  • ‘Lacinato’ (aka ‘Lacinato Blue’, ‘Tuscan’, ‘Black Palm Tree’, or ‘Cavil Nero’): heirloom, straplike leaves up to 2 feet long on plants that resemble small palm trees; heat tolerant and very cold-hardy.
  • ‘True Siberian’: large, frilly, blue-green leaves; cold-hardy; pick all winter in some areas
  • ‘Vates Blue Curled’: hardy variety that is slow to bolt and does not yellow in cold weather. It eponymous leaves reach 12 to 14 inches on 15-inch plants
  • ‘Winterbor’: resembles ‘Vates’, with 24-inch leaves on 2- to 3-foot-tall plants; baby leaves can be harvested at 28 days; frost-tolerant

Kale varieties

Harvesting

  • Kale is ready to harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand. Pick about a fistful of outer leaves per harvest, but no more than one-third of the plant at one time.
  • Avoid picking the terminal bud (at the top center of the plant), which helps to maintain the plant’s productivity.
  • Kale will continue growing until temperatures reach 20°F/-7°C. Do not stop harvesting: A “kiss” of frost makes it even sweeter. (See local frost dates.)
  • To extend the harvest, protect with row covers or tarps. Or, create a makeshift cover of old blankets propped up by hay bales.
kale in snow
Kale is very cold hardy!
Photo credit: Beeldbewerking/GettyImages

 

How to Store Kale

Store kale, like other leafy greens, in a loose plastic bag in the refrigerator. It should keep for about 1 week.

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Pests/Diseases

Kale Pests and Diseases
Pest/DiseaseTypeSymptomsControl/Prevention
AphidsInsectMisshapen/yellow leaves; sticky “honeydew” (excrement); sooty, black moldGrow companion plants; knock off with water spray; apply insecticidal soap; put banana or orange peels around plants; wipe leaves with a 1 to 2 percent solution of dish soap (no additives) and water every 2 to 3 days for 2 weeks; add native plants to invite beneficial insects
Black rotFungusYellow, V-shape areas on leaf edges that brown and progress toward leaf center; leaves eventually collapse; stem cross sections reveal blackened veinsDestroy infected plants; choose resistant varieties; provide good drainage; remove plant debris; rotate crops
Cabbage loopersInsectLarge, ragged holes in leaves from larval feeding; defoliation; stunted or bored heads; excrementHandpick off plants; add native plants to invite beneficial insects; spray larvae with insecticidal soap or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)—a natural, bacterial pesticide; use row covers; remove plant debris at end of season
CabbagewormsInsectLeaves have large, ragged holes or are skeletonized; heads bored; dark green excrement; yellowish eggs laid singly on leaf undersidesHandpick; use row covers; add native plants to invite beneficial insects; grow companion plants (especially thyme); spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
Flea beetlesInsectNumerous tiny holes in leavesUse row covers; mulch heavily; add native plants to invite beneficial insects

Wit and Wisdom

  • Kale is not native to North America. Current varieties are descended from wild cabbage.
  • Farmers have long grown kale as fodder for farm animals, including cattle and sheep.
  • Kale has a number of health benefits, as it is rich in minerals and vitamins A and C.
  • To avoid pest and disease issues, do not plant kale or other cole crops in the same location more than once every 3 or 4 years.
  • The chill of a moderate frost or light snow improves the flavor of kale.

Recipes

Potato and Kale Soup
Kale Salad with Cranberries, Feta, and Walnuts
Kale, Sausage, and White Bean Soup
Hearty Kale, Bean, and Zucchini Soup

Cooking Notes

The small, tender leaves can also be added raw to salads or smoothies. Cut and cook the larger leaves like spinach, but be sure to remove the tough ribs before steaming or stir-frying. Kale can also be substituted for spinach in omelets, casseroles, and quesadillas. Enjoy our best kale recipes.

If you find the taste of raw kale to be too bitter, try giving it a massage. Remove stems and then chop leaves into pieces. Add a small amount of lemon juice or olive oil, then use your fingers to rub the leaves together for several minutes until the kale begins to wilt.

Also, kale is great for freezing. See how to freeze kale and other greens.

Vegetables
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

Ruben James (not verified)

6 months 2 weeks ago

Hey I didnt see anything about the zones, is it able to grow in 9a - 9b? I've grown kale here successfully, but I am now selling it and wanted to know if there was anything I could show people that proves it grows in 9a - 9b we very rarely get below 25 degrees here so it can live throughout the winter.

Hi Ruben,

Kale is a cool weather crop so it is best grown in early spring and in the fall when the temperatures are cooler in those zones. It can certainly be grown in your area, and while it prefers full sun, if it will be growing during the warmer times of the year, it is best to plant in an area that receives shade and make sure to give it plenty of water.

You can plant kale seeds indoors in late winter, then transplant the seedlings into the garden in early spring to then enjoy the harvest before the temperatures really begin to rise. You can also plant in very late summer or early fall so it will be growing during cooler times.

Hope this helps!

Amanda (not verified)

2 years 7 months ago

I recently learned kale can cause bowel obstruction in certain people, extremely painful and requiring surgery, probably shouldn’t go kale crazy 😬

Hello,

I understand your concern, kale is very high in fiber which can cause certain health problems with certain people but, Kale to most people can be a very nutritious and might I say delicious snack.

Sincerely Jace from State Farm

Kat (not verified)

3 years ago

I dry kale in my dehydrator, blend it into powder and use it in my smoothies.

Brandon (not verified)

3 years 2 months ago

I have several kale plants in a raised bed that have been growing and producing for 3 years. The main stalks are very long and I would like to cut them back. When is the best time of year to do this?

Thank you.

Bst (not verified)

3 years 3 months ago

Bought some grocery store kale. Didn't care for it. Planted some in my garden last year. Didn't care for that either. I have concluded that I don't care for kale.

Mix it in a salad with baby spinach. Adds depth to the flavor without the bitterness of kale. And, as a side note, kale and spinach each add a different combination of nutrition so the compliment each other well.

Most greens in the grocery store are picked when they are past their preferred leaf size. This makes them taste much stronger than if they were harvested at a smaller, more flavorful size. Also, different varieties have milder flavors. Try eating your greens on a peanut butter sandwich made with your favorite whole grain bread & butter. Very tasty!