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Leafy Greens · Cool season

Kale

Kale

Kale: crop reference photographCrop reference
Sun

Full sun to part shade; 4–6+ hours of direct sun, with afternoon shade helpful in heat.

Water

Aim for about 1 inch of water per week including rain; check soil 1 inch down and water at the roots when it begins to dry. Raised beds may need more frequent watering in heat. Keep moist, never waterlogged.

Spacing

12–18 in

Difficulty

Easy–Moderate

Planting and care

How to grow kale

When to grow

Cool season · Annual

How to start

Direct seed or transplant

Mature size

6–36 in depending crop

Time to harvest

Baby leaves: 25–35 days from seed; mature kale: 50–70 days; collards: 55–85 days. Transplants shorten time in the bed.

Feeding needs

Heavy feeder

Growth habit

Leafy Compact

How to prune

Remove yellow or heavily damaged lower leaves; keep the central bud intact. Do not strip the plant bare or cut its main growing tip during ongoing harvest.

How to harvest

Snap or cut the oldest lower leaves at their stems when about hand-size. Leave the upper cluster growing and harvest a few leaves per plant at a time.

Harvest and kitchen use

Salads, sautés, wraps or cooked greens depending crop

Nutrition and garden value

Leafy greens provide folate and vitamins A/K; nutrient profile varies by crop

Space-efficient; many tolerate shoulder seasons and succession planting

Common challenges and troubleshooting

Heat bolting, slugs, flea beetles or leaf miners depending crop