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Growing Kale
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Kale
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Kale
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Kale is a cold-hardy vegetable that can be planted in early spring or autumn. Cool weather brings out the sweet, nutty flavor of this highly nutritious green. Dive into our Kale Growing guide for information on planting, growing, and harvesting this hard-working beauty.
Kale is a member of the cabbage family. Small plants can be set out very early in the spring (3 to 5 weeks before the last frost!). But kale’s glory is the autumn season in many regions as long as winter temperatures do not dip below the teens. 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
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 the temperatures can dip below the 20s, it’s best to have floating row covers on hand; you can cover them on cool nights.
- In the fall, kale can be planted 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost for fall and winter harvests. In zones 8, 9, and 10, kale can be planted throughout the fall.
- 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 tolerates 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. Water 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week.
- 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.
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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Growing Kale
| Botanical Name | Brassica oleracea acephala |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Vegetable |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun |
| Soil Type | Loamy |
| Soil pH | Neutral to Slightly Alkaline |
| Bloom Time | |
| Flower Color | |
| Hardiness Zones | |
| Special Features |
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Reader Comments
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I grow kale & Swiss chard
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
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
It is possible to harvest Kale in the caribbean?
Hi Jorge, I don't really
Hi Jorge,
I don't really know. Kale is generally considered a cool weather crop. Ask at a local nursery.
Yes you can!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Grow in a straw bale. They're cute cheap and effective for growing plants.
Grow in a straw bale. They're
Grow in a straw bale. They're cute cheap and effective for growing plants.
I sowed kale seed in my new
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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?
With kale, you can harvest
With kale, you can harvest the outer leaves when they are mature and allow the smaller inner leaves to keep growing.
flowers
Once the plant has gone to flower, should it be cut back ?
Yes, your plant has bolted
Yes, your plant has bolted and it is the end of its lifestyle. It is probably too warm now. Replace this cool weather vegetable with a new plant.
Cut the flower buds off
If you keep it from flowering, it will keep producing leaves. Pinch or cut the buds off.
I have a good sized patch of
I have a good sized patch of blue curled kale I grew mid July of last year in northern Arizona, it flowered and seeded this june after a great harvest through a -15 degree winter. I harvested the seed pods and now the plants are all producing more kale than ever. when will they exaust and die?
freezing kale?
Can kale be frozen, hopefully?
Yes, you can freeze kale.
Yes, you can freeze kale. Wash it and cut off stems. Blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes, then submerge in ice water. Spin in salad spinner and dry. Then, place on parchment paper on a cookie sheet or flat surface. Put in freezer until frozen. Then, you can shake into an airtight container.
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