Garden calendar for the kitchen garden - vegetables and herbs. See what to plant right now and for next month.

Growing Kale, also Borecole

(Brassica oleracea sp.)

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

(Best months for planting Kale in Australia - sub-tropical 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: 40 - 50 cm apart
Harvest in 7-9 weeks.
Compatible with: Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, camomile)
Avoid growing with: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chilli, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Calvolo nero kale
Scotch kale

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

27 Oct 11, sandra wangnet (Australia - tropical climate): please tell me where can I buy kale and kale seeds ? I live in Sydney, I have no idea what kale looks like or taste like.
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12 Nov 11, richard novak (Australia - temperate climate): my parents bought some edible kale -red russian,tastes great and good for you.they live down in mossvale,i'll find out the nursery they bought it from.
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04 Mar 11, Georgia (Australia - arid climate): I also live on the Northern Beaches - I bought kale seeds online from Diggers.com.au just recently actually. There were $3 I think with $6 postage
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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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22 Aug 11, Sid Pearson (Australia - temperate climate): Woolworth Mawson has some
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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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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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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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