Kale
Cabbages · Brassica oleracea var. sabellica · Cabbage family · Biennial
Very hardy; harvest leaves all season, sweeter after frost.
How it grows
| Sun | Part shade |
|---|---|
| Moisture | Normal |
| Soil | heavy (clay loam) |
| Spacing | 45 cm |
| Rotation group | Brassicas & leafy greens |
| How to plant | seedlings |
| Green manure before it | Field Peas |
| Protector plant | Hyssop |
| Bad neighbours | Strawberry |
When to sow, by climate zone
| Zone | In the ground | Sow indoors | Sow again for autumn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | late Apr – early May | late Mar | |
| Zone 4 | mid-Apr – early May | mid-Mar | |
| Zone 5 | early Apr – mid-May | early Mar | |
| Zone 6 | late Mar – late May | late Feb | late Jul – late Aug |
| Zone 7 | mid-Mar – mid-May | mid-Feb | early Aug – early Sep |
| Zone 8 | late Feb – late Apr | late Jan | late Aug – mid-Sep |
| Zone 9 | late Jan – early Apr | late Dec | mid-Sep – early Oct |
| Zone 10 | early Jan – mid-Mar | early Dec | late Sep – late Oct |
Dates for the average frost dates of each zone; the app works them out for your own town.