🌱 Sowing & planting
Kale ( Brassica oleracea var. acephala subvar. laciniata ) is a leafy cabbage from the Cruciferous family. You can grow both medium-sized and tall varieties for autumn and winter harvests.
- Sowing depth: approximately 1.25 cm.
- Sowing method: Sow in 6–8 cm pots, in trays or in pressed cubes.
- Germination temperature: around 13 °C or higher.
- Germination time: 🕒 7–10 days.
- Planting distance: approximately 50 cm between plants and 60 cm between rows.
- Growth cycle: approx. 100 days from sowing to first harvest.
📅 Growing times throughout the year
- Autumn cultivation: sow outdoors in May; harvest from September to mid-December.
- Winter cultivation: sow outdoors June–early July; harvest from December to mid-March.
Start cultivation (sowing)
Harvesting
Jan Feb Mar Apr May
JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT
NOV DEC
Autumn cultivation
Winter cultivation
🪟 Under glass / greenhouse
Outside / open ground
Popular breeds
- Vert Demi-Nain / Medium Fine Curl – medium-height autumn kale with finely curled leaves.
- Westland Winter (BIO) – kale for autumn and winter cultivation, resistant to frost.
Basic information about kale
- Crop group: cabbage crop.
- Crop family: Cruciferous family.
- Height: 40–150 cm (medium-sized 40–80 cm, tall varieties up to 150 cm).
- Root system: approximately 30–45 cm deep.
- Frost resistance: yes, kale can withstand frost well and often becomes sweeter after a cold spell.
- Fertilization: basic fertilization with compost and a universal organic fertilizer.
- Soil: Loam soil with pH 6.0–7.5 is ideal.
Location & water requirements
- Sun: 🌤️ Partial shade to sun; an open, airy position prevents mold.
- Water: 💧 Limited water needs; ensure even moisture, especially during dry periods.
Companion vegetables
✅ Good neighbors
- Beetroot
- Celery
- Herbs and aromatic herbs (e.g. thyme, sage, marjoram)
- Onion
- Potato
❌ Bad neighbors
- Tomato
- Bush beans
- Strawberry
Dangers & Concerns
- Kale is not very susceptible to disease and is ideal for an organic vegetable garden.
- General cabbage pests (such as cabbage root flies and caterpillars) can appear in a cabbage patch; Variation in the cultivation plan and insect netting help prevent problems.
🧺 Harvesting & storing
Harvest kale by picking the lower leaves separately. You can harvest the leaves with or without the petiole. As you harvest more, the plant continues to grow and you get a kind of "tree."
Nutritional value per 100 g (cooked, without salt)
- 28 kcal
- 0 g fat
- 6 g carbohydrates
- 2 g protein
- 2 g fiber
- 1 g sugar
- Vitamin A, B6, C, E and K
- Thiamine, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus , riboflavin, folic acid, potassium, copper and manganese
