How to grow Kale
Brassica oleracea
Hardy greens that sweeten after frost.
Kale is one of the toughest greens you can grow anywhere — it actually turns sweeter after a frost. Plant in spring and again in late summer for a fall crop that often stands into winter under snow in cold climates.
Grow Kale with step-by-step help for your exact yard.
Start free in Seededly →Kale at a glance
| Sun | Sun / part shade |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6.0–7.5 |
| Spacing | 12–18 in |
| Harvest | 55–70 days |
| Plant | Spring & late summer |
| Note | Frost-sweetened |
How to grow Kale, step by step
Sow or set out
- Direct-sow or transplant in spring, and again in late summer for fall.
- Full sun in cool weather; a little afternoon shade in summer heat.
Keep it growing
- Steady water and rich soil grow tender leaves.
- Watch for cabbage worms; pick them off or cover young plants.
Pick the outer leaves
- Harvest from the bottom up and the plant keeps making more.
- A light fall frost makes the leaves noticeably sweeter.
Kale problems & fixes
Kale — Ragged holes in leaves: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Cabbage worms. Pick off the green caterpillars or cover plants with fine netting.
Kale — Leaves tough and bitter: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Summer heat. Harvest young leaves and look forward to sweeter fall growth.
Kale — Clusters of gray bugs: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Aphids. Blast with water and check the leaf undersides regularly.
Recommended kale varieties
- Lacinato (Dino) — Best flavor. Sweet, tender, dark blue-green leaves; the chef’s favorite.
- Winterbor — Cold-hardiest. Curly and tough — shrugs off hard frosts and keeps producing.
- Red Russian — Tender / fast. Mild, flat leaves that are great raw; quick to size up.
Kale month-by-month
| January | Plan; order seed. |
|---|---|
| February | Start a few indoors. |
| March | Sow/transplant outdoors. |
| April | Harvest outer leaves. |
| May | Keep picking; watch for worms. |
| June | Summer heat slows it — shade and water. |
| July | Sow the fall crop now. |
| August | Fall plants size up. |
| September | Prime fall kale — frost sweetens it. |
| October | Keep harvesting into the cold. |
| November | Stands under cover/snow in cold areas. |
| December | Off-season. |