Vegetable growing guide
Kale
Brassica oleracea var. sabellica
Sun
Full sun
Season
Cool
Maturity
55 to 75 days
Water
Moderate
Soil pH
6.0 to 7.5
Spacing
12 to 18 in
Planting kale
Sow or transplant in early spring for summer harvest, or in mid to late summer for a fall and winter crop. A light frost sweetens the leaves.
Planting details
- Spacing: 12 to 18 inches
- Seed depth: about 1/2 inch
- Tolerates light frost and partial shade
Growing requirements
Kale prefers cool weather, fertile soil, and steady moisture. It is one of the more forgiving brassicas and keeps producing in beds where summer crops have finished.
Harvesting and care
Harvest outer leaves from the bottom of the plant up, and leave the central growing tip intact. Plants often survive deep into winter under snow or row cover.
Common mistakes
- Sowing only in spring, which misses the easier fall and winter crop
- Skipping row cover, which leaves plants open to cabbage worms and aphids
- Cutting the growing tip, which stops new leaf production
Companion plants
Beets, onions, celery, and most herbs grow well near kale. Rotate brassica beds each year so cabbage-family diseases do not build up in the soil.