Eating Garden

How to Grow Kale

Brassica oleracea var. acephala

A cold-tough leafy green that can keep making harvests well into fall.

At a glance

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Sunlight

    Full sun

  • Water

    Average thirst

  • Growing in a pot

    Suitable for pots

  • Plant spacing

    8 to 12 in apart

More about this plant

Plant kale in cool weather, keep it growing steadily and take the older outer leaves first. Cool fall weather improves the flavor, while summer heat makes leaves tough and strong.

  • Grows over two seasons.
  • Can grow in raised beds, the open ground.
  • Fine in a small space.
  • A good one to grow together with children.

Optional local dates

Planting dates where you live

The growing guide above works anywhere. This section adds local frost dates when we have them.

Optional local dates

Get planting dates for where you live

Save a city or a U.S. ZIP so we can turn local frost records into useful dates. Every crop guide still works without this.

A U.S. ZIP uses official NOAA frost records. Other countries use weather-station records, or a climate reconstruction where stations are missing. Coordinates are used once and not stored. We save only a place label and climate summary in a private browser cookie. You can clear it anytime.

Helpful gardening guides

When to plant

Match these relative steps to your local seasons. Where frost applies, use the last freezing night in spring and the first in fall. In frost-free climates, follow trusted local seasonal guidance.

  • Sow outdoors 4 to 5 weeks before your last spring frostDirect sow about four to five weeks before the last frost-free date.
  • Start indoors 8 to 9 weeks before your last spring frostStart seedlings five to six weeks before a transplant date four to five weeks before the last frost.
  • Sow outdoors 10 to 12 weeks before your first fall frostSow a fall crop about three months before the average first fall frost.

What you need

  • How to start itFrom seed or a young plantYou can sow it straight into the ground, or start it indoors first.
  • How deep to plant0.25 to 0.5 in
    Planting depth: 0.25 to 0.5 in below the soil surface. Drawing is not to scale.
  • How far apart8 to 12 inLeave 18 to 24 in between rows.
    Leave 8 to 12 in between plants and 18 to 24 in between rows. View from above; drawing is not to scale.

Step by step

  1. Plant before warm weatherSow or transplant four to five weeks before the last spring frost, or plant again for fall.
  2. Sow shallowlyCover seed a quarter to half an inch and keep the surface moist.
  3. Thin for full-size leavesLeave about 8 to 12 inches between plants. Closer plants make baby leaves.
  4. Water deeplyGive about an inch a week and keep growth steady through dry spells.
  5. Watch for leaf chewersCheck under leaves for small caterpillars and aphids, especially while plants are young.
  6. Pick outside leavesTake the oldest leaves and leave the center growing for the next harvest.

Common mistakes

  • Growing through strong summer heatHot weather slows kale and makes the leaves tough and bitter. Plan for spring or fall.
  • Letting plants dry outWater stress makes stronger-tasting leaves and slows new growth.
  • Cutting the centerThe middle growing point makes the next leaves. Harvest older outer leaves first.

Water

Average thirst

About one inch of rain or irrigation a week is a useful start. Water deeply and check sandy soil more often.

  • Too dry
  • About right
  • Too wet
  • If it goes drySuffers quickly when dryLeaves become tough, strong tasting and slow to grow.
  • If it stays wetDislikes sitting wetSoggy ground can weaken roots and raise disease risk.

Looking after it

  • FeedingAn occasional feed helpsUse compost and follow a soil test. If needed, feed lightly once plants are about four inches tall.
  • ThinningThin seedlings to 10 in apartCrowded seedlings stay small. Pull the weaker ones and keep the strongest.
  • MulchA weed-free organic mulch holds water and reduces shallow hoeing.

Harvest

You will know it is ready when: Pick leaves when they reach a useful size. Young leaves are tender; larger leaves are better cooked.

Remove the oldest outer leaves first and leave the small center leaves to keep growing. You can also cut the whole plant near the soil.

  • Keeping itKeeps 7 to 21 daysCool leaves soon after harvest and refrigerate them. For best quality, use them within about one to three weeks.

Is this right for you?

Cool weather below about 75F. Young plants tolerate frost around 25F, and established fall plants can keep producing after colder weather.

  • LightFull sun
  • ShadeCopes with a little shade
  • SeasonA cool season cropUsually grown in spring, fall, or winter.
  • FrostSurvives a hard freeze
  • HeatStruggles in heat

Soil

  • Soil pH6.0 to 7.5A cheap test kit from a garden centre will tell you yours.
  • Soil it likesLoam, Sandy, Clay
  • DrainageWants well drained ground
  • RichnessWants rich ground

Use fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Finished compost helps steady leaf growth.

Test the soil before feeding. Do not use fresh manure or weed-and-feed products.

The year at a glance

Measured from your first fall frost, because seasons differ from garden to garden. In frost-free climates, use trusted local seasonal guidance alongside these relative steps.

  1. Sow outdoors

    10 to 12 weeks before your first fall frost

  2. Start seeds indoors

    8 to 9 weeks before your last spring frost

  3. Sow outdoors

    4 to 5 weeks before your last spring frost

Questions people ask

Does frost hurt kale?

Kale handles frost well, and cool fall weather can improve its flavor. Protect small plants from severe cold.

How do I harvest kale more than once?

Pick older outer leaves and leave the small center leaves in place.

Why is my kale bitter?

Heat or dry soil can make the flavor strong. Keep water steady and grow it in cooler weather.

Can I eat small kale leaves?

Yes. Baby leaves are tender and can be picked while plants are still close together.

Also filed under: Vegetables

Where this came from

Advice varies with your climate and variety. Check the sources behind each section.

Sources & review dates
Back to the essentials ↑