Growing Kale, also Borecole

Brassica oleracea sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S                    
    T T T              
    P P P              

(Best months for growing Kale in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 50 - 100 cm apart
  • Harvest in 7-10 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, camomile)
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chilli, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Your comments and tips

18 Jan 18, Orville Roache (Australia - tropical climate)
supermarkets in Jamaica are asking for this a lot. Does anyonee have aJamaican Experience ?
07 Jul 17, Mary (Australia - temperate climate)
Grow as much Tuscan kale as you can and make kale chips. I tear the kale into roughly 2 inch squares, put it into a bowl with olive oil and gently coat them. Then separate them, put them in your dehydrator (I only use an excalibur) and dry them till they are crispy. Lay them flat, salt them with pink himalayan and put them in a bowl on the table..I guarantee they will all be gone in 5 minutes..delicious!
21 Jun 17, Coral (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Just wondering how long a kale plant will live for?
21 Jun 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It is a biennial plant - could live for a few years - a good outcome is 3 years. It is a cool weather crop and can handle some frost. Tastes a bit bitter in the summer - drier and warmer. My rule is once a plant has produced a good crop and the quantity and quality has fallen away time to plough out. Put something else in that will produce a good supply.
02 May 17, Alice (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Aphids over wintering on any curly leaved kale. Last year I grew a lot of leafy greens, the kale Nero was a great success, however the others grew really well but were infested with wooly aphids seeking shelter I assume. I'm not into chemical sprays, and getting the spray in all the curly leaves seems too time consuming, I can wash them off but it's almost pointless with the numbers per leaf. Have others found this? What can I try that's not too much of a hassle as I have a young family and don't really want to go out spraying with garlic spray for example after each time it rains.
25 Jan 18, Wihiria Mark (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi, An organic gardener told me that broken egg shells keep any crawly grub away as they do not like the sharp edges of the egg. Good way to use egg shells as well. I found it did work with cabbage, cauliflower, hope this is useful to you as well.
22 May 17, hornz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
try companion planting with spring onions, shallots &/or garlic
17 Jan 17, Ashley (Australia - temperate climate)
Kale fry sriLankan style Wash the leaves in salt water and cut them very fine or use the fine cutting blade in the food processor Heat generous amount of olive oil in a frying pan and add chopped garlic Spanish onions finely chopped and fry till transparent and sweet. Then add in the chopped kale at the same time add Tumaric powder cumin and coriander powder bit of cracked pepper and salt mix it all up stur well once the kale goes dark green it's ready to go With the spicy mix play around with I like it hot and add chopped green chillies Goes well with rice chiken Rost or grill stake you will never taste the shared kale taste
04 Jan 17, JACK SKENDER (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grow my kale in sandy soil just north of Perth WA.. My problem is that the leaves develop yellow blotches after a period of 6 months. I thought it might be an element deficiency in the soil and applied trace elements without success. I have used various fertilizers to no avail. Can you suggest what element my soil could be deficient in for the Kale Many thahks Jack Skender
17 Mar 17, Bruce (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Jack, yes always a challenge in sandy soil. You won't look back if you use Paul Gautschi's Back to Eden method. It never fails! Google "Back to Eden Garden" The film is also available on YouTube and Vimeo. Good luck.
Showing 21 - 30 of 175 comments

Re comment of 24 Sep 08 - the heads that formed tasted just like broccoli - usefull plants edible leaves and heads that just kept coming.

- Phillip Wheatley

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