Select your climate zone Australia - cool/mountain Australia - sub-tropical Australia - temperate Australia - tropical New Zealand - cool/mountain New Zealand - sub-tropical New Zealand - temperate United Kingdom - cool/temperate United Kingdom - warm/temperate What is my climate zone?

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
S	S	T	T

(Best months for planting Kale in Australia - cool/mountain regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings.

• Easy to grow.
• Harvest in 7-9 weeks.
• 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.
• Space plants: 40-50cm

Green leafy plant. Kale is a good addition or substitute for cabbage varieties.

Very winter hardy. Flavour is improved by frost. Ornamental varieties are colourful, and edible. Rotate with other crops to avoid clubroot infection.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Kale

Strong flavoured and nutritious vegetable.
Wash well and chop finely then steam.
A tomato or cheese sauce will mask the flavour if too strong.

Your comments and tips

10 Mar 10 aukje van Vark (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

(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.

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27 Jan 10 Evelyn (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I grew some Tuscan Black Kale in a wine barrel last winter and it was in part-shade with lots of morning sun. Didn't seem to hurt it and we had a good crop. Mario I haven't see kale in the supermarkets (in Canberra) as yet but others may have.

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08 Dec 09 Mario Mariani (Australia - temperate climate)

Does Kale grow wild as an introduced plant throughout the Temperate zone? Is it sold in markets and supermarkets in Australia?

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26 Jul 10 Mel (Australia - temperate climate)

Mario, i just saw established kale seedlings at bunnings for under $3. I am sure that being the big corporate being they are, they will have kale in most of their stores :) I am wondering whether it is a good thing to plant now though? (Late july)

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18 Aug 09 Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Paea, you can buy kale seeds online from www. kingsseeds.co.nz or some garden shops sell their seeds.

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18 Aug 09 Paea Haraki (New Zealand - temperate climate)

can u tell me where can i buy kale from in new zealand or seeds

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13 Aug 09 David (Australia - temperate climate)

Bunnings (NSW) has Cavelo Nero / Tuscan Cabbage seedlings for sale

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11 Aug 09 Geoff (Australia - temperate climate)

www.theitaliangardener.com.au has Cavolo Nero or Tuscan black kale inported from Italy

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29 Jul 09 Cath (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I live in an apartment and plan to grow kale on my balcony - any tips on how to do this effectively? Also, does anyone know where I could buy Kale leaves (dried or fresh) please? Thanks!

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18 Jul 09 Joan (Australia - temperate climate)

I purchased Kale - Nero de Toscano from Eden seeds, they were a bit spasmodic in germinating but really I only needed two or three plants to keep me going. I often use it with silverbeet and chard to make a "spinach" and ricotta pie, very yummy. I have since purchased new seeds from The Italian Gardener website so will try them soon.

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