Brassica oleracea also known as kale belongs to the group of cabbage plants which are grown for their delicious edible leaves. Generally speaking, kale plants are known as being more closely related to wild cabbage than to the widely-known domesticated forms of Brassicas. The name Kale comes from the Northern Middle English “cale” which was used for various cabbages, but the real origin of the word is the Latin “caulis” which also means “cabbage”.
Leaf cabbage or kale originates from the eastern Mediterranean and Anatolia regions, where it was widely grown for food, but it is growing in popularity all around the world. Kale can be consumed raw, and it can be used in many delicious recipes, but it also has great ornamental value.
A few ways to eat kale and enjoy its numerous health benefits include adding it to salads, making kale chips, adding it to soup, sandwiches or burgers, or in green smoothies. If you are not a fan of green leaves, there are a few tricks that can make them taste better – massaging the leaves with lemon juice and olive oil, blanching the leaves, or sautéeing them with your favourite spices.
Another great thing about this plant is the fact that it is a pet-friendly plant and generally considered non-toxic. For some dog breeds, however, it can cause an upset stomach, especially in large quantities. If your furry companion munches on a few kale leaves, they will most likely be fine, but it is not recommended to feed your dog large quantities of kale.
Quick Facts
| Botanical Name | Brassica oleracea |
| Common Name | Kale, Leaf Cabbage |
| Plant Type | Annual, edible plant from the Cabbage family |
| Mature Size | up to 70-80 cm (30 inches) wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun, partial shade |
| Soil Type | Well-draining, loamy, rich soil |
| Soil pH | Slightly Alkaline, Neutral |
| Bloom Time | Late spring, early summer |
| Flower Color | Purple, pink, white |
| Hardiness Zones | 7-9 (USDA) |
| Native Area | Eastern Mediterranean, Anatolia |
About Kale
- Brassica oleracea is a loose-leafed edible plant, it is derived from the cabbage group that belongs to the mustard family of plants known as Brassicaceae. The leaves can be eaten fresh or cooked, being a source of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron and vitamin B6.
- The earliest record of cabbages in western Europe was in the 13th century and the hard-headed cabbage was the most representative specimen. Some England records from the 14th century made the difference between hard-headed cabbage and loose-leaf kale.
- Curly-leaved types of Brassica oleracea and its flat-leaved varieties already existed in Greece in the 4th century BC. These varieties were called by the Romans “sabellian kale” and were considered to be the ancestors of modern kales. Brassica oleracea was extensively cultivated during World War II as it was easy to grow and provided essential nutrients missing from a balanced diet.
- During the twentieth century, Brassica oleracea was mainly grown in the United States for its decorative features. Still, only at the beginning of the 1990s, it became more popular as an edible vegetable for its nutritional value.
- Today, kale is very popular in the United States, especially in California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. As of 2012, there were 2,500 American kale farms and demand for this healthy plant is on the rise.
- The leaves from the ornamental species of Brassica oleracea are becoming more and more popular as elements for vegetable bouquets and wedding bouquets.
- Brassica oleracea is a good match as a companion plant with several types of veggies, herbs and flowering plants like beets, celery, cucumber, lettuce, onion, basil, rosemary, mint or thyme.
Kale Features: An overview
- Brassica oleracea can be classified by leaf type as the colours of the leaf vary from light green to green, to dark green and even to violet-green and violet-brown. There are five types of Brassica oleracea when classified by leaf type: curly-leaf, bumpy-leaf, plain-leaf, leaf and spear (feathery-type leaf which is a hybrid between curly and plain-leaf) and the ornamental variety which is less palatable and it has tougher leaves.
- Curly kale is the most known type of the three. It has bright-green very curly leaves, sometimes the leaves are so tight curls that it may be hard to chop them. Its taste is described as being bright and peppery and it may have a slightly bitter flavour.
- Another popular type of kale is Tuscan kale which goes by many names: dinosaur kale, cavolo nero, and black kale. This type of kale has longer spear-like leaves with a pebbled appearance and a dark, mottled green colour. It tastes earthy and is more bitter than curly leafed type, but it also has a nutty sweetness.
- Another type worth mentioning is called Russian Red kale which can be found at the more gourmet natural stores. It has flat, fringed leaves that simulate oak leaves or the outer leaves of a cabbage. Their flavour is sweet and mild with a pinch of pepperiness.
- Used as an ingredient in recipes, kale can be steamed and stir-fried or it can easily stand for spinach in omelettes or quesadillas. It also represents a perfect addition to smoothies or salads when the leaves are young and tender.
- Ornamental kale is mainly grown for its attractive ornamental leaves which come in an impressively diverse palette of colours. Ornamental kale can have white, red, pink, lavender, blue or violet foliage. A few nice varieties of ornamental kale are peacock kale, coral prince, kamone coral queen, colour-up kale and Chidori kale. Brassica oleracea grown for its decorating features is edible too, even though it may not be as tasty as the other varieties, it is still a non-toxic plant.
- Ornamental kale can be used as an annual for spring and fall gardens and it can also be a good choice for container gardens.
- If you are familiar with ornamental cabbage, you might be surprised to learn that ornamental kale is basically the same plant. However, in horticulture, specialists use the term ornamental kale for the plants that have curly, ruffled, or frilly leaves and prefer to use ornamental cabbage for plants that have large, flat leaves, that sometimes have contrasting edges. Whether it is labelled as ornamental kale or ornamental cabbage, this plant can make a colourful addition to home gardens where it can be grown for its attractive white, pink, purple or red leaves.
Growing Kale
Brassica oleracea is an annual plant that grows from seed with great tolerance to germination temperatures. It is hardy and develops really well in winter time and it can survive temperatures as low as -15° Celsius. One interesting detail about this plant is that its taste may become even sweeter after a heavy frost. Because kale is so well adapted to low temperatures and it can grow well in winter, one variety is called the “hungry gap” after the winter period when in traditional agriculture there is little less to be harvested.
Generally, kale is grown mainly for autumn and winter harvest because it is known that lower temperatures boost its qualities and flavour. Its resilience to low temperatures permits the harvesting of fresh greens in a period of the year when vegetables become inaccessible.
There are a few tips that you can use as a guide in order to enjoy your Brassica oleracea harvest. First, you will have to make sure that you plant kale four to five weeks before the last frost. In in-ground gardens, raised beds are fantastic growing options. Also, you will have to plant each plant at a distance of 45-60 cm in a place with full sun and very well-drained, fertile soil. You can boost the nutrients of the soil by mixing several cm of aged compost or other rich organic matter. If you want to enjoy nutritious kale all year long, you may also consider an indoor, water-based system.
When it comes to pests and diseases, kale often grows as a carefree crop but there are some types of insects that can damage the plant. Among them, there are the cabbage worms which like chewing the leaves of all types of cabbages. You will also have to watch for outbreaks of cabbage aphids, as they can damage your plants significantly. If there are only a few small areas affected, you can use insecticidal soap locally. The leaves that are badly infested should be picked off and discarded.
Planting Kale
As previously mentioned, kale is a cold-hardy and resilient member of the cabbage family. You can start planting your kale early in the spring as long as you protect it against severe winds. Its growth is influenced by the outside temperature so, it will grow steadily in the colder months and will stop in growth as soon as the temperatures will start to rise.
You can also plant kale in the fall when the weather is cool and makes them have that wonderful, unique nutty flavour. The fall period is considered to be the best period to grow kale as the leaves mature in cooler temperatures.
Kale loves sunny spots, but it also can tolerate partial shade. The plants that receive lower amounts of sun daily, under six hours, will have fewer leaves and will be less stocky than the ones that get more than six hours of sun daily. If you plant kale in spring, you will have to be a little patient your plants may remain pretty small until the warmer temperatures trigger the growth of the plant.
- Beautiful - Five large color packets of delicious Kale varieties including Lacinato (Brassica oleracea var. palmifolia), Improved Dwarf Siberian (Brassica oleracea var. acephala), Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica), Scarlet ( Brassica oleracea), and Red Russian (Brassica napus var. pabularia 'Red Russian'). A wide variety of leaf types and colors. Visually stunning in the garden and on your plate. All very tender and delicious, especially after a frost.
- Productive - A carefully selected variety that grows well planted outdoors in the spring or fall. Also does very well grown indoors if given sufficient light. Minimum of 750mg per packet.
- All Hail Kale - Kale is among the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. A great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. A tasty addition to salads, soups, or breakfast bowls. Also baked into healthy and delicious kale chips.
- Easy to Grow - Instructions included on each packet. Plus, we are available to answer all your questions. If these seeds don’t germinate, we will happily make it right for you.
- Safe and Sustainable - Our operation is fully solar powered, and Sow Right Seeds has taken the Safe Seed Pledge to sell only fresh Non-GMO heirloom seeds for you and your family.
- Dinosaur Kale - Lacinato is a favorite kale with bluish-green leaves that have a bumpy texture. Also known as Tuscan kale, the tender leaves are great as kale chips or make a great addition to soups and salads.
- Cold Hardy - Lacinato kale is a fantastic green leafy vegetable for winter months because the frost makes the nutritious leaves even more tender and sweet. It also performs well in the summer months and is exceptionally easy to grow.
- Sustainable Living - Vegetable gardening is an essential foundation of a more self-sufficient lifestyle. Home-grown fruits and vegetables are generally more flavorful and nutritious than store-bought, and this lovely dino kale variety is exceptionally good for growing at home.
- The Info You Need to Grow - These non-perishable seeds are packed in a beautiful paper packet with instructions for successful growing and germination in your home garden. Each package also has instructions for saving seeds after harvest. Getting started is simple for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
- Small American Family-Owned Business - We’re committed to always providing fresh, high-quality seeds for you to plant now or to store for future growing seasons. We pledge to sell only safe, non-hybrid non-GMO heirloom seeds that are always open-pollinated, untreated, and tested to ensure the best germination rates. They will remain viable for years if stored properly in a cool dry location.
- TRUSTED VARIETY - Popular kale seeds used by gardeners for years. This is a heavy producing variety that is packed full of nutrients.
- COLD TOLERANT - Vates blue scotch kale gets better in the colder months of the year. The cold makes the leaves less bitter and more sweet.
- USA - All of our seeds, including the Vates Blue Scotch Curled Kale seeds for planting home garden are heirloom, open-pollinated and non-gmo, grown in the USA. Don't buy inferior seeds from other countries. This should give you added reassurance that not only can you enjoy the seeds this season, but you can save the seeds each year adding food security to your home.
- PACKETS - Each Vates Blue Scotch Curled Kale seeds for planting outdoors plant seeds packet is printed on water resistant paper, in full color with growing and harvesting directions included. Each heirloom spinach seeds packet contains atleast 1 grams of seeds (approximately 275 seeds).
- GUARANTEE - We know you're absolutely going to love your kale seed, but if for any reason you don't, please contact us.
Last update on 2024-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you want to plant ornamental cabbages and kales in your garden, it is important to know that these plants do not tolerate extreme heat very well. The ideal planting season for them is mid-summer. Sow the seeds about six to 10 weeks before the expected date of the first frost in your area.
When purchasing ornamental cabbage or kale transplants, it is best to choose large, compact plants that are nearly or fully coloured. Keep in mind that these plants might not grow much after they are planted in the garden, especially if they are planted in containers and the roots are pot-bound. Another important aspect to consider when purchasing ornamental kale transplants is to assess your available space and choose the plants accordingly.
Kale is easy to plant and grow both in raised beds and containers. Plant them at the depth at which they are growing in the container. If you let more space between the plant, the leaves will have more space to grow bigger, but at the same time, you have to know that the smaller leaves tend to be the most tender. After you finish with the whole plantation process, you will have to water the plant well.
Watering Kale
Kale needs large amounts of water in order to properly develop and stay healthy. You will have to water them regularly to keep the soil moist, but pay attention not to overload the soil with water. Together with the cool weather, moist soil keeps the kale leaves sweet and crisp, instead of tough and bitter.
As with any other leafy vegetable, kale has many large, tender leaves so this large area means that the plant transpires more moisture, particularly when the temperatures are higher. So, you will have to replace all that loss of moisture by ensuring the plant receives enough water. This means that when the temperatures are higher, you will have to water the plants almost daily, especially if the area where you live is dry. One tip regarding watering and determining the soil moisture of your kales, especially in summer, is checking whether the leaves start to drop. If that happens, it means that your plants are lacking moisture so you should provide some afternoon shade for your plants and water them more often.
Another way you can ensure proper moisture of the plants is to mulch them. For this, you will have to apply a generous layer of organic mulch. You can use compost or quality composted hay. Mulching your plants will guarantee that the moisture won’t evaporate that easily from the soil and will also keep it cooler.
Propagating Kale
When it comes to propagating the Brassica oleracea plant, you can grow a whole new plant just from a cutting. This is the procedure you will have to follow: cut off seven centimetres of the top bud from the centre of a kale plant, you may include several budding leaves and cut right below a leaf node. After that, you can dip the stem in honey or you can use rooting hormone, if you have any, to encourage growth.
Next, plant the stem straight into compost in a container, and cut some of the foliage off, this way the plant will focus on root growth, rather than the leaves. After this step, you only have to take care of the plant and keep it moist, it should develop a new root system within a few weeks.
Another way of propagating the kale is by using seeds. Kale seeds will germinate very quickly and should sprout up within five to eight days since you planted them. Cover the kale seeds with approximately 1.5 cm of soil and keep the soil moist. The seeds will mature between 55 and 75 days. As a tip, you may want to soak the kale seeds for 24 hours before the plantation, this method can significantly cut down on germination time. To soak the seeds, you just have to put them in a cup of water for 24 hours, but is not recommended to keep them in water for more than 24 hours as they may lose their properties. Once you have sown the seeds, keep them in the warmest spot of your house. The ideal temperature for germination is between 7° to 29°C.
In Conclusion
Growing Brassica oleracea, commonly known as kale, in your garden can be a fulfilling activity as you will have fresh produce at hand. Kale is easy to care for and it also has a lot of healthy nutrients, not to mention how tasty it can be when added to a salad or a smoothie. When growing kale, keep in mind that one of its particularities consists of the fact that it tastes even better when the temperatures are lower, so you can harvest it even near the winter period when there are no other plants in your garden.
Kale can also be an excellent plant if you grow it for ornamental purposes, as some species have deep colours like violet or dark green and you may even plant it along other ornamental flowers as a companion plant.
Whether you love eating kale or you just enjoy growing it for ornamental purposes, don’t forget to celebrate National Kale Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday of October.
Are you growing Kale in your home or garden? Share your experience in the comments!
Article Sources
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270435
- https://www.britannica.com/plant/kale
- https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-kale
Kale FAQS
How do you grow kale for beginners?
For beginners, kale can be started from seeds or transplants. Choose a location that gets full sun and has well-draining soil. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep and 12-18 inches apart. Water well after planting and keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. If starting with transplants, plant them at the same depth they were in their pot.
How long does it take to grow kale?
Kale typically takes around 55 to 75 days to mature from planting, depending on the variety. However, you can start harvesting leaves as soon as they’re big enough to eat, usually around 30 days after planting.
How easy is kale to grow?
Kale is relatively easy to grow. It’s a hardy plant that can tolerate cold temperatures and even a light frost, which makes it a great choice for fall and early spring planting. It also grows well in containers, making it suitable for small spaces or indoor gardens.
Does kale keep growing after you cut it?
Yes, kale does continue to grow after you cut it. When harvesting, cut the outer leaves and leave the center intact, which allows the plant to continue producing new leaves.
Does kale need full sun?
While kale prefers full sun, it can tolerate partial shade. If you live in a warmer climate, a bit of afternoon shade can help prevent the plant from overheating.
Does kale need a lot of water?
Kale prefers consistently moist soil, so regular watering is necessary. However, it’s important not to overwater as this can lead to root rot. A good rule of thumb is to water deeply once a week, and adjust based on weather conditions.
