Why Grow Kale
Forget everything you know about supermarket kale or what you've read in gardening books—kale is far better than you think! It offers a wide range of flavours and textures, is highly productive, and moderately expensive to buy organically. Kale's harvest period is incredibly long, and when it begins to seed, the eating quality remains superb, even allowing you to enjoy the florets.
How Many to Grow
Kale is a fantastic crop that delivers healthy leaves over a long period. However, it tends to stall in winter, so it's helpful to grow it alongside kalettes, Brussels sprouts, and cabbages. We recommend not growing more than three plants per person unless you're juicing or making smoothies. This usually requires around 1m² per person, with another 1.5m² in June for the cooler months.
When to Sow Kale
To get the best out of your kale crop, sow two or even three successions:
- First Earlies (January/February)
- Early Main Crop (Mid-March)
- Main Crop (Mid-June/July)
- Late Crop (August)
First Earlies (January/February)
If you're lucky, you’ll still be eating last year's kale in April and early May. However, by late May, those plants will have finished. Early kale fills the gap in the harvest period, making a significant difference during the "hungry gap." These early sowings should be harvested hard, as they naturally go to seed in April.
Early Main Crop (Mid-March)
A March sowing is ideal for summer harvests, though pests like cabbage root fly and caterpillars are a challenge. We don’t grow too much kale for summer as it’s not in high demand among our family, but it is still productive into autumn and winter.
Main Crop (Mid-June/July)
This sowing comes into its own in late winter and early spring when other brassicas like Brussels sprouts and kalettes are finishing. These plants grow smaller but stay strong through winter and provide a great spring harvest.
Late Crop (August)
An August sowing offers potential for a good winter and spring harvest. Plant densely and use a low tunnel to protect the young plants through autumn and winter.
Favourite Varieties
We recommend a variety of kale types to provide different tastes and textures across the growing season. Some of our favourites include curly kale, cavolo nero, and perennial varieties.
How to Sow Kale
We sow kale similarly to other brassicas. Seeds are sprinkled over compost and germinated at around 18°C. Once the seedlings are about 1-2" tall, they can be pricked out and transplanted into modules.
Where to Plant Kale
Kale prefers slightly alkaline soil with plenty of organic matter like well-rotted manure or compost. We recommend using slow-release nitrogen sources, as kale plants grow leaves and sprouts throughout the season.
Preparing the Ground
We prepare the soil by firming it, watering it a few days prior to planting, and adding compost and other amendments like poultry manure pellets or Hoof and Horn.
How to Plant Kale
We generally plant six plants per square metre for March sowings and nine per square metre for later sowings. We water the planting hole and inspect for pests before planting, ensuring the root is buried deep in the soil.
Watering
Water thoroughly but infrequently to encourage deep roots. After the initial watering, we wait up to two weeks before watering again, depending on rainfall.
Supporting the Plants
Kale can grow tall and may need support. We use fence pins and tie the stems loosely to provide stability as the plants grow.
To Net or Not to Net?
We prefer using a butterfly net to keep pests and pigeons out while allowing natural predators to access the plants. We remove the nets in July to facilitate harvesting and keep an eye out for pests like aphids and whiteflies.
Cold Weather
Kale is fully hardy through the winter, even in temperatures as low as -6°C. Sustained wind and frost can dry out the plants, but they usually recover.
How to Harvest Kale
Kale offers a long harvest period from May through April. We recommend picking leaves before they become too large and removing any decaying or pest-infested ones. The seed heads are also edible once the plants go to seed.
Post-Harvest Care
We soak the harvested kale leaves in cold water to freshen them up, especially after frosty or windy periods. The leaves store well in airtight containers for about a week.
Cooking Kale
Kale can be steamed, added to smoothies, or made into crisps.
Dealing with Pests
Kale is more susceptible to pests than other brassicas. We manage aphids by removing infested leaves or blasting them with a water jet. If the infestation becomes severe, soapy water can be used.
