Growing Kale, also Borecole

Brassica oleracea sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
S S                    
    T T                

(Best months for growing Kale in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 50 - 100 cm apart
  • Harvest in 7-10 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, camomile)
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chilli, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for New Zealand | for all countries
17 Nov 15, Peter (Australia - temperate climate)
Freeze it. Crush the frozen leaves and make a salad of walnuts, cranberries, chopped cheese and kale. Dress with olive oil and lemon juice.
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27 Oct 15, Vicki (Australia - temperate climate)
Kale can be a little hard to take! I blend it with a full apple and peeled orange, and drink it down! Not juice, but blend! Yummo!
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24 Oct 15, Macca (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Cook it
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23 Oct 15, eric (Australia - tropical climate)
that is the life of Kale I find it pleasant when it is steamed with other vegies. Kale is kale and I have not had a sweet one yet, I have mixed Kale with tomatoes (tommy toes black russians and yellow cherry tomatoes) leb cues and coconut water and salt and honey i thought that morning after the 25 klm ride breakfast was pretty good, but remember not to much Kale very strong flavor.
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16 Sep 15, karen Tardieu (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where can I get kale seeds from ? Thanks, Karen
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13 Sep 15, Madeleine (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I live in East London, any idea where I can buy Kale?
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07 Aug 15, Stephanie (USA - Zone 7b climate)
How much sun does kale need to fully grow?
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01 Sep 15, (USA - Zone 6a climate)
If you are planting now, end of Aug or early Sept. Full sun is great in 7b
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28 Jun 15, Nicola (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi everyone, I'm in PMB and found Kale and a large varriety of other hard to find seeds and plants at a garden place called Blackwoods (I think that's the name) its where McDonalds Seeds used to be behind the Royal Showgrounds on Boshoff Street opposite the Mcdonalds restuarant. There is also a fantastic little restuarant in the garden place so u can pop in, grab a cuppa or a muffin or both and walk around and look at all the plants and speak to anyone who works there if u need help. What an awesome place! *love going there*
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19 Jun 15, bailey james wright (Australia - temperate climate)
KALE IS THE BESTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!! FROM BAILEY 19 june 2015
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