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                    
    T T T              
    P P P              

(Best months for growing Kale in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • 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

22 Aug 11, Sid Pearson (Australia - temperate climate)
Woolworth Mawson has some
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.
28 Nov 14, Betty McGrath (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Aujke, How long in the freezer?
08 Aug 10, ANKE (Australia - temperate climate)
COULD NOT BELIEVE AFTER 15YEARS WE SAW AND BOUGHT FRESH KALE GREEN AT DROMANA VICTORIA IN A GREEN GROCERY STORE NEAR THE BEACH. HAVE NOT EATEN IT SINCE MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AND COULD NOT GET IT ANYMORE.BEING GERMAN IT WAS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE MEALS SHE COOKED WITH SMOKED SAUSAGES AND SMOKED HAM HOCKS..
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
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.
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.
12 Feb 12, Mary (Australia - arid climate)
I just bought some Kale seeds from The Lost Seed - just Google them. Mary.
19 Mar 12, Rob (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Kale can be planted at any time of the year in Brisbane - you can get any of the seed varieties from any garden shops. Try a few varieties - use lots of compost and water regularly. Eat the young leaves chopped in salads, grind the old leaves for juice or feed to chooks. My chooks prefer kale leaves to any other offerings! Kale is high in vitamins especially A and is perfect with oil, vinegar and touch of salt/pepper. The diamond back cabbage moth gives it a hammering and pick any chewed leaves immediately and feed to chooks or dispose. Spray with white oil or do what i do and put a mozzie net over the patch! Kales will last you at least 6-8 mths with a little attention! Our number plant in our garden!
14 May 12, Roger (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live West of Brisbane, East of Toowoomba. I plant kale seed around May/June. This to get them up and running before the bug season. By September/October they are finished off by bugs (I don't spray). Also as previously posted, they do like a cold snap, we don't get heavy frost, but kale loves a frost. A 'cut and come again' veggie, how can you say no. At the moment I am using dwarf curly kale. Looks just like the real thing to me.
Showing 31 - 40 of 174 comments

How and what to grow for winter in a cold climate

- kirsty hewitt

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.