Kale

Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Brassica oleracea var. acephala
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USDA hardiness zones:
-

This cool season leafy green is extremely cold hardy and can provide colorful healthy greens for salad or to be cooked throughout the winter, even through snow. Showy leaves make this a great landscape plant for the ornamental garden as well as the culinary garden.

Seeds can be sown directly just under ½ inch (1 cm) deep in rows 18 to 30 ( 45 to 60 cm) apart about three months before frost is due to begin in your region. Seeds sown 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart should eventually be spaced to 12 to18 inches (30 to 45 cm). Kale can be transplanted out with your other cole (cabbage family) crops 4 to 6 weeks before last frost expect 12 inches (30 cm) apart. Kale is fairly resistant to insect pests, floating row covers can be used to prevent early pests. Crop rotation on a 3- or 4-year cycle will keep diseases down.

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Gardens with this plant

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Groundskeeper replied almost 3 years ago
Green Power!! In the cabbage family, kale takes first place for nutrition. Like its distant parent, it's all leaves and all green, even a deep green approaching purple and black in some varieties. And the leaves are think and chewy with stored green power. Raw kale is even a bit bitter, maybe a promise of potency (the leaves sweeten with cold days in Autumn and early winter).
Groundskeeper replied almost 3 years ago
Green rebound! Dr. Terry Wahl, at the University of Iowa, lost her strength and mobility to multiple sclerosis in 2000 and got them back by changing what she ate. Kale was a big part of her recovery, by the cupful every day. For a summary of her story, click here.

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