Kale sown in early summer feeds you all winter
Short answer
Sow kale outdoors from April to early August, or indoors from late February to mid-May. Plant out from late March to late August. A sowing in May or June gives leaves from late summer right through winter until March, when fresh greens are hardest to find.
Kale sowing calendar
From the VegLog crop library. Change the frost dates to match your garden.
Last frost around 20 April, first frost around 31 October.
- Sow indoors
- late February to mid-May
- Sow outdoors
- early April to early August
- Plant out
- late March to late August
- Harvest
- late June to late March
Kale is the crop that keeps a vegetable garden going through winter. Sow it from April to early August, plant it out by late August, and you’ll be picking leaves from late summer until March.
For the longest winter crop, sow in May or June. For early leaves in summer, start it indoors from late February.
When to sow
| Sow | Where | First leaves |
|---|---|---|
| Late February to March | Indoors, in modules | Late June |
| April to June | Seedbed or modules outside | August to October |
| July to early August | Seedbed or modules outside | Autumn, then through winter |
Kale is one of the easiest brassicas, and it’s hardy to around -15 °C. A frost makes the leaves sweeter, so the winter pickings are often the best.
Sowing and planting out
Sow 1.5 cm deep, thinly in a seedbed or two seeds to a module. Thin to the stronger seedling.
Plant out when seedlings are about 10 cm tall, from late March for early sowings to late August for the last.
- Choose a spot with firm soil. Kale copes with some shade, unlike most crops.
- Space plants 45 cm apart, in rows 60 cm apart.
- Firm each plant in well, as plants grow to about 90 cm and need to stand all winter.
- Water in, and cover with fine netting.
Nasturtiums, dill, mint and beetroot grow well nearby. Plant it where you didn’t grow other brassicas last year, to keep clubroot at bay.
Netting and care
Cabbage white caterpillars and pigeons both love kale. Cover plants with fine mesh on hoops through summer, and leave a net on in winter if pigeons are a problem.
Water in dry spells and mulch to keep the soil moist. On windy sites, draw soil up around the stem in autumn, or tie tall plants to a stake.
Picking
Start picking about 45 to 65 days after planting out, once the plants have plenty of leaves. Take a few of the lower leaves from each plant at a time, and leave the crown at the top growing. Picked this way, a plant keeps going for months.
Growth slows in midwinter, so pick lightly then. In early spring, plants put on a burst of new leaves and then send up flower shoots. Pick those shoots like sprouting broccoli before they open.
Varieties
Curly kale, such as Dwarf Green Curled, is the hardiest and easiest. Cavolo nero has long, dark, flat leaves that are good in soups. Red Russian has softer leaves and is good picked young for salads.
Common problems
Caterpillars. Holes and droppings in summer. Keep the netting closed and check leaves for eggs.
Whitefly. Small white insects that fly up when you brush the plant. Rarely serious. Wash leaves before cooking.
Pigeons. Stripped leaves in winter. Net the plants.
Kale and Brussels sprouts share a bed and the same care. For more winter crops, see what to sow in October, and set your own frost dates on the kale page.
Questions people also ask
Is it too late to sow kale in July?
No. July is a good time to sow kale for winter picking, and you can sow until early August. Later sowings make smaller plants, so pick lightly until spring.
Can I grow kale in shade?
Kale copes with some shade better than most vegetables, though it grows faster in sun. A spot with a few hours of direct sun a day is enough.
Which kale is hardiest?
Curly kale is the toughest, standing well below freezing. Cavolo nero is hardy too, but its flat leaves can get scruffy in a wet winter.
Dates set to your own frost dates
VegLog works out sowing and planting times for your town, then reminds you when each job is due.
