Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
Lacinato Kale is a delicious heirloom kale that prefers cooler weather and gets a bit sweeter in taste with a light frost. Although it can still be grown as an annual in hotter zones, this kale variety will grow perennially in cooler zones and prefers a full sun or partial shade area. The narrow leaves display deep grooves and a dark green-turquoise color. Try using this kale variety in salads, steamed, cooked into soups and stews, or baked into kale chips!
NAME: Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
VARIETY: Lacinato
DAYS TO MATURITY: 60 – 70 days
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: Perennial, typically grown as an annual
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 2 – 11
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun to partial shade
SOIL: Fertile, loam soil with a pH 6.5 – 6.8
PLANT HEIGHT: 24 – 36 inches
SPACING: 14 – 18 inches apart
TEMP: 35 – 85ºF
These seeds do not required stratification.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
Sow seeds indoors 2 weeks before your last local spring frost.
You can sow the kale seeds into large pots and have the seedlings remain in the large pots for their entire life if you choose but it is recommended to sow in cell trays to transplant outside later.
Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting soil mix, keeping the soil moist and ensuring ambient temps are around 70°F. Seedlings will sprout in 7 to 14 days.
As soon as the seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow 3 to 4 inches beneath fluorescent/LED plant lights turned on 15 hours per day, off for 9 hours at night, raising the light with growth.
Before planting outside, you will need to harden off seedlings for several days. Do this by taking them outside during the day and bringing them in at night.
Make sure soil and air temps are at least 50°F before transplanting
Direct sow seeds outdoors once air and soil temps stay above 50°F during the day and night (Minor temperature fluctuations are okay).
Sow seeds 2 inches apart and cover with ¼ inch of fine soil; press soil down lightly and water them in generously; seedlings emerge in 7 to 14 days (Warmer soil temps germinate the seeds quicker).
When seedlings are 2 inches tall, thin to 8 inches apart; this will allow enough space for each plant to grow.
It is important to keep the soil continuously moist until the sprouts get to be 1 inch tall.
In the summertime, insect netting or shade cloth may prove necessary to prevent cabbage moth damage.
Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage continuous growth and prevent the plant from bolting.
Leaves may be harvested individually once the plant is over 8 inches tall, harvest the leaves at the bottom of the plant first, working your way up to the smaller upper leaves.
Use harvested leaves fresh in salads, smoothies, or cooked dishes, or store them in the refrigerator for later use.
Regular harvesting promotes new leaf growth and prolongs the harvest period.
