🥕 Kale

Brassica oleracea var. sabellica (curly), B. oleracea var. acephala (lacinato/dinosaur)

vegetables brassica (leafy green, cole crop)

☀️ Sun

Full sun (6–8 hours); tolerates partial shade better than most vegetables

💧 Water

Medium–high; 1–1.5 inches per week; consistent moisture improves leaf tenderness and flavor

🗺️ Zones

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

🪴 Soil Type

Rich, well-drained loam with high organic matter; kale is more forgiving than other brassicas but still a heavy feeder

🧪 Soil pH

6.0–7.5 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline)

💧 Drainage

Well-drained; tolerates a range of conditions better than most brassicas

📏 Spacing

12–18 inches apart; rows 24 inches; Italian lacinato/dinosaur kale needs slightly less space than curly types

📅 Days to Maturity

30-60 days (from seed) for baby leaves; 50-75 days for full size

🍴 Edible Parts

🍽️ ["Leaves"🍽️ "Stems (edible when young; tough stems can be braised or discarded)"🍽️ "Flower buds (kale raab \u2014 like broccoli)"]

🤝 Companions (7)

🤝 Dill

Attracts parasitic wasps for cabbage worm control; improves growth

🤝 Rosemary

Repels cabbage moths; masks brassica scent

🤝 Sage

Repels flea beetles and cabbage moths

🤝 Nasturtium

Trap crop for aphids; cabbage worms prefer nasturtiums to kale

🤝 Chamomile

Improves flavor; antifungal; attracts beneficial insects

🤝 Beet

Different root depths; kale benefits from minerals beets add to soil

🤝 Onion

Repels cabbage loopers; conflicting: alliums may inhibit brassicas slightly

⚠️ Keep Apart (3)

⚠️ Tomato

Brassica allelopathy may stunt tomatoes

⚠️ Strawberry

Mutual growth inhibition

⚠️ Beans (conflicting)

Some sources say beans stunt kale; others say kale benefits from nitrogen — most modern sources recommend separation

💊 Medicinal Uses

["One of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet \u2014 extremely high in vitamins K, A, C, and B6", "Contains sulforaphane (anti-cancer), kaempferol and quercetin (anti-inflammatory flavonoids)", "Exceptional source of lutein and zeaxanthin for eye health", "Contains bile acid sequestrants that can lower cholesterol (steamed kale is especially effective)", "High in calcium (more bioavailable than spinach's oxalate-bound calcium)"]

📝 Notes

Kale is the most cold-hardy brassica — flavor IMPROVES after frost (cold converts starches to sugars, reducing bitterness). Can survive temperatures down to 0°F (-18°C) with protection. Varieties: Curly kale (most common), Lacinato/Dinosaur/Tuscan (dark, bumpy leaves — best for cooking), Red Russian (tender, purple stems — best for salads), Siberian (most cold-hardy). Perennial 'tree kale' varieties exist (Brassica oleracea var. ramosa) — can live 5+ years.