Growing Kale

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Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Kale Plants

By Catherine Boeckmann
Kale Leaves
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Kale is a cold-hardy crop that can be planted in early spring or late summer. Cool weather brings out the sweet, nutty flavor of this highly nutritious leafy green. Dive into our Kale Growing guide for information on planting, growing, and harvesting this hard-working beauty.

Kale is a member of the Brassica family, like cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and other common “cole crops.”

In the spring, kale can be started from seed and young kale plants can be set out very early (3 to 5 weeks before the last frost). But in many regions, kale is best grown in autumn, when temperatures are cooler. Kale tastes better when the leaves mature in cold weather.

Kale is versatile in the garden, growing in traditional beds or raised beds and containers. It’s also versatile in the kitchen and a nutritious addition to salads, stir fries, omelettes, casseroles, and other dishes.

Planting Dates for KALE

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Planting Calendar for all Plants

Planting

When to Plant Kale

  • In early spring, kale can be set out in the garden 3 to 5 weeks before the last frost. However, if temperatures are likely dip below the 20s, it’s best to have floating row covers on hand; you can cover the young plants on cool nights. 
  • For a fall harvest, kale can be planted 6 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost. In zones 8, 9, and 10, kale can be planted later in the fall and even into winter. 
  • Harvest it from fall until the ground freezes in winter. In fact, kale leaves often have a better flavor after a couple frosts.

Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site

  • Kale does best in full sun, but does tolerate partial shade.
  • The soil pH should be 6.5 to 6.8 to discourage disease. (Test your pH with a kit from your Cooperative Extension office or garden store)
  • Based on the soil test, amend your soil with nitrogen-rich compost or blood meal. (If you didn’t test your soil, mix in a few inches of compost).
  • Soil needs to drain well and also be enriched for tender leaves.  When planting, add fertilizer (1-½ cups of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 25 feet of row into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil).

How to Plant Kale

  • If you’re planting seeds, sow ¼ to ½ inch deep into well-drained, light soil. After about 2 weeks, thin the seedlings so that they are spaced 8 to 12 inches apart.
  • If you’re setting out plants (which is more common), plant them at the depth at which they are growing in the container. Space 18 to 24 inches apart.
  • After planting, water plants well.

Check out this video to learn how to grow kale. 

Care

How to Grow Kale

  • It’s important to keep kale well watered and fed. If rain is inconsistent, provide 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week (about 1 gallon per square foot). 
  • Regularly feed kale with a continuous-release plant food.
  • Mulch the soil to keep down the weeds and keep kale cool as kale won’t grow in hot weather. 
    • Mulch the soil again heavily after the first hard freeze in the fall; the plants may continue to produce leaves throughout the winter.

Pests/Diseases

  • Cabbageworms are a common pest. Chewed holes are the sign of the green cabbage worm.
  • Flea beetles
  • Cabbage Aphids are easily solved with a spray of insecticidal soap but keep your eye out for these tiny bugs which will be clustered between the leaves.

Harvest/Storage

How to Harvest Kale

  • Kale is ready to harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand.
  • Pick about one fistful of leaves per harvest. Start harvesting the oldest leaves firt from the lowest section of the plant. (Discard any yellowed or torn leaves.)
  • Avoid picking the terminal bud (found at the top center of the plant) because this will help to keep the plant productive.
  • Kale will continue growing until it’s 20°F. It tastes even sweeter with a touch of frost. (See local frost dates.)
  • If you wish to extend your harvest, shield your kale from the cold with row covers. Or, create a makeshift cover with tarps and old blankets propped up by hay bales. Here are a few more season-extending ideas.
  • The small, tender leaves can be eaten uncooked and used in salads.
  • Cut and cook the larger leaves like spinach, but be sure to remove the tough ribs before cooking.

How to Store Kale

  • You can store kale as you would any other leafy green; put the kale in a loose plastic produce bag and store it in the refrigerator. It should last about 1 week.

Recommended Varieties

  • ‘Vates’, which is a hardy variety and does not yellow in cold weather. It also has curly, blue-green leaves.
  • ‘Winterbor’, which resembles the ‘Vates’ variety, but is frost tolerant.
  • ‘Red Russian’, which has red, tender leaves and is an early crop.

Kale varieties

Wit & Wisdom

  • The chill of a moderate frost or light snow improves the flavor of kale.
  • Kale has a number of health benefits, as it is rich in minerals and vitamins A and C.

Recipes

Cooking Notes

Many people dislike kale because it is so crunchy and dry. It sounds odd, but a great way to make kale more tasty is to massage it!

Kale also makes a great compliment to spinach in a salad (watch this video for great kale salad ideas), and kale chips can be a tasty treat. Find out more about kale and spinach.

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Reader Comments

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My purple kale in squamish BC

Submitted by Nigel on May 5, 2014 - 1:49pm

My purple kale in squamish BC has done amazing all winter. now with flowers opening up in top will those flower buds act as seeds? I cut down the stalks but left the stem and roots with a few little growths. I tryed planting the flower buds as seeds. will I have any luck with any of these trials?

Hi Nigel, Flowers are the

Celeste Longacre's picture

Submitted by Celeste Longacre on May 5, 2014 - 5:18pm

Hi Nigel,

Flowers are the first step on the way to seeds. The bees need to pollinate the flowers for them to be able to form seeds. I wouldn't bother planting the flowers. The stem and roots may produce something--it depends upon a number of things.

I had some insect on my kale

Submitted by Arline Gidion on March 19, 2014 - 12:54pm

I had some insect on my kale last year, all over
Do not know what the were bit ugly and
I pulled out my kale plants. Any recommendation
how to get rid of insects on kale. A

There are a variety of

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on March 19, 2014 - 5:02pm

There are a variety of insects that love kale. See the pests mentioned above to identify.

By mid-summer, my kale was

Submitted by Pat Hockett on March 19, 2014 - 8:23pm

By mid-summer, my kale was wormy & bitter. I cut it down to about 6" tall & removed any remaining leaves. It leafed out again & I had a nice fall crop. Dispose of the leaves (& worms). Don't try to compose them.

Good guidance. Can kale grow

Submitted by ratna on February 24, 2014 - 12:42pm

Good guidance. Can kale grow indoors without direct sunlight?

Hi Ratna, I've never tried

Celeste Longacre's picture

Submitted by Celeste Longacre on February 25, 2014 - 11:58am

Hi Ratna,

I've never tried it myself, but you might be able to grow it under grow lights.

I grow kale & Swiss chard

Submitted by Pat Hockett on February 25, 2014 - 6:57pm

I grow kale & Swiss chard under a grow light & use the small leaves in green salads to accompany my grow-light lettuce.

Kale will grow in low light

Submitted by Joshtulkin on March 9, 2014 - 11:51am

Kale will grow in low light conditions, just not very fast. I threw old plants that were going to seed under my deck and they grew. You may need some light to get the seedlings going. I've also grown red Russian and curly kale in pots. Again, much lower yield but if you've got the space, still work it.

It is possible to harvest

Submitted by Jorge on February 19, 2014 - 9:47pm

It is possible to harvest Kale in the caribbean?

Hi Jorge, I don't really

Celeste Longacre's picture

Submitted by Celeste Longacre on February 20, 2014 - 12:49pm

Hi Jorge,

I don't really know. Kale is generally considered a cool weather crop. Ask at a local nursery.

Yes you can!

Submitted by Maryn on September 6, 2017 - 5:38am

I've grown beautiful kale on Curacao. Kept it growing for about 8 month. Then had to pull them all out because the aphids took over. Vinegar and water rinse got rid of them, then steamed and froze for a year of "boerenkool". Grew them in the shade, in beds. Good luck!

I planted kale for the first

Submitted by Martin Tustin on August 21, 2014 - 7:22am

I planted kale for the first time here on the costa blanca in Spain. Temp is 28c in shade. Planted in May/june. Its growing well and ready for harvest. Keep watering well.

I live in North Carolina

Submitted by KellyF on January 20, 2014 - 4:13pm

I live in North Carolina (Zone 7B) and the birds ate all my kale seedlings in the fall. Is it possible to start new seeds indoors now and transplant to my garden in a few weeks? Or will it be too cold for it to start?
Thank you.

Start your seeds indoors in a

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on January 22, 2014 - 4:18pm

Start your seeds indoors in a sunny location about 8 or 9 weeks before your expected last frost date. Transplant the seedlings out into the garden 3 weeks after you started them (6 weeks before your last frost date). They will tolerate the cold.

I'm an apartment dweller who

Submitted by Kale-iscious on January 15, 2014 - 11:07am

I'm an apartment dweller who recently acquired one with a balcony. Can you provide some suggestions / probability of successfully growing kale in containers? Specifically hoping to grow lacinato and curly purple varieties. Thanks.

Dear Kale-iscious, I have

Celeste Longacre's picture

Submitted by Celeste Longacre on January 15, 2014 - 2:45pm

Dear Kale-iscious,

I have never grown kale in pots, but don't see that it couldn't be done. Just use the biggest pots that you can find and make sure that they get at least 6 (preferably more) hours of Sun. Also, give them lots of organic matter (old manure, compost, etc.).

I have Kale growing in a pot

Submitted by Susan New on June 30, 2014 - 11:27am

I have Kale growing in a pot with lavender right now. I pick it while it is no bigger than my hand and usually smaller. It is good in salads or in small batches of pesto which for me is often just olive oil and Kale. It gets a few hours of more direct light but is mostly getting indirect. This is not the large hearty kale like in my outdoor garden ( I am lucky to have a community p-patch garden). It is delicate and delicious.

Grow in a straw bale. They're

Submitted by Tameka on May 11, 2015 - 6:03pm

Grow in a straw bale. They're cute cheap and effective for growing plants.

Grow in a straw bale. They're

Submitted by Tameka on May 13, 2015 - 6:21am

Grow in a straw bale. They're cute cheap and effective for growing plants.

I sowed kale seed in my new

Submitted by Winter Gardener on December 4, 2013 - 6:39pm

I sowed kale seed in my new cold frame which has 12,000+ lumens of wintertime supplemental light here in NH. It all germinated and is now about 3" tall and is tightly spaced. If I use scissors to cut bunches of baby kale will it regenerate as lettuce would? Or must I harvest individual leaves to get the plants to continue to produce (as we have been doing in the open garden for 3 to 4 months now). Thanks.

Dear Winter Gardener I am

Celeste Longacre's picture

Submitted by Celeste Longacre on December 6, 2013 - 3:25pm

Dear Winter Gardener

I am not 100% sure, but I suspect that it will not generate like lettuce. I generally pick individual leaves from the outside or bottom first.

My kale plants are currently

Submitted by stefanie on November 24, 2013 - 6:36pm

My kale plants are currently covered with melting ice. Is it ok to harvest some leaves now, or will that harm the plant?

Kale is a cold-weather

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on December 2, 2013 - 3:45pm

Kale is a cold-weather champion and can withstand a hard frost; this even makes the veggie taste sweeter. Kale can even survive an extreme freeze; you may lose some leaves but when the temperature warms up to 0 degrees, the leaves start to regrow.

Can I put kale seeds directly

Submitted by jackie crean on July 16, 2013 - 12:07pm

Can I put kale seeds directly in the ground now, even in the middle of summer? I live in southern NJ

You can plant kale in your

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on July 16, 2013 - 12:55pm

You can plant kale in your area as a fall crop. Planting seeds mid-July through late August is fine. (Southern readers: wait until October before planting.)

Harvesting Early

Submitted by Anonymous on May 19, 2013 - 9:37pm

I planted Winterbor Kale April 16th it is growing wonderfully. Maturity is 55-60 days but in the next few days the temp. will reach above 80 degrees. Can I begin harvesting now before it gets too hot and the leaves get bitter?

summer

Submitted by Anonymous on May 14, 2013 - 11:39pm

I just planted some curly kale plants. I keep reading that it is a cool weather plant. Is it too hot in the summer to grow kale?

Yes, kale is a cool-season

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on May 16, 2013 - 3:14pm

Yes, kale is a cool-season vegetable that is grown primarily in spring and fall. For good taste, kale is best harvested before summer heat or after frost in the fall to avoid bitter leaves.

How to harvest?

Submitted by Anonymous on May 6, 2013 - 9:59am

Do you just cut off what you need each time and leave the plant to keep regrowing or do you harvest the whole thing and it is done?

Pages

Growing Kale

Botanical Name Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Plant Type Vegetable
Sun Exposure Full Sun, Part Sun
Soil Type Loamy
Soil pH Neutral to Slightly Alkaline
Bloom Time
Flower Color
Hardiness Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
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