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 46°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 20 - 39 inches 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

25 Mar 16, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
the smaller leaves are much better, up to 2 inches long. The larger ones will be bitter on their own.
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.
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!
24 Oct 15, Macca (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Cook it
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.
16 Sep 15, karen Tardieu (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where can I get kale seeds from ? Thanks, Karen
13 Sep 15, Madeleine (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I live in East London, any idea where I can buy Kale?
07 Aug 15, Stephanie (USA - Zone 7b climate)
How much sun does kale need to fully grow?
01 Sep 15, (USA - Zone 6a climate)
If you are planting now, end of Aug or early Sept. Full sun is great in 7b
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*
Showing 51 - 60 of 175 comments

(Dutch) Kale or boerekool, needs a night of below zero before eating. Normally this happens on the fields, but you can also achieve this by freezing it after harvest. It gets the bitterness out, and makes it a touch sweeter. We always eat it mashed with potatoes, and then add fried bacon and sausages.

- aukje van Vark

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