edenhana

Kale

One of the hardiest brassicas, surviving frost well and providing pickings through winter when other greens stall.

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Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
45cm
Harvest
Ready in 55-70 days
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Expected yield
Repeated leaf pickings over winter and spring
Cost to grow
~$6 NZD
Grocery value
~$35 NZD
Companion plants
Potatoes, Beetroot, Onions, Herbs
Plants to avoid nearby
Strawberries, Tomatoes
Common diseases
Clubroot
Common pests
Cabbage white butterfly caterpillar, Aphids

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: January-May. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: January-April. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast and Christchurch / Canterbury: January-March. In Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: January-February.

Growing stages

  1. Germination & sowing

    • Sow direct or as seedlings; germinates readily in the cooler months this crop is typically grown in
    • A full-sun position helps establish strong, hardy growth that will carry the plant through winter

  2. Seedling & establishment

    • Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars and aphids can target young leaves; netting helps protect seedlings early on
    • Clubroot can affect roots in poorly drained or acidic soil, though kale copes better with this than most brassicas

  3. Vegetative growth

    • One of the more trouble-free brassicas once established, though clubroot can still affect roots in poorly drained or acidic soil
    • Survives frost well, and cold weather is often said to improve the flavour of the leaves

  4. Harvest55-70 days from sowing, then ongoing

    • Pick outer leaves regularly right through winter when other greens stall
    • Keep checking regrowth for caterpillars and aphids

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