🥬 Kale
🍴 Overview
Crop: Kale
Common Varieties in OK: ‘Lacinato’ (Dinosaur), ‘Dwarf Blue Curled’, ‘Red Russian’, ‘Winterbor’
Planting Season: Early spring and late summer for fall/winter harvest
Days to Maturity: 50–70 days
🎨 Trait Legend
🟩 Cool-season – Tolerates frost; sweeter after cold snap
🥬 Leafy green – Grown for foliage
☀️ Full sun – Can tolerate part shade
🌱 Replant OK – Spring and fall crops both do well
📏 Spacing & Soil
Row Spacing: 18–24 inches
Plant Spacing: 12–18 inches
Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil, high in organic matter; pH 6.0–7.5
Fertilizer: Compost-rich base; light nitrogen mid-season if needed
🌱 Cultivars We Recommend
‘Lacinato’ (Dinosaur) 🟩
Dark green, bumpy leaves. Great flavor and very cold-hardy.
‘Dwarf Blue Curled’ 🟩
Compact, curly leaves. Good for tighter gardens.
‘Red Russian’ 🟩
Tender, colorful leaves. Great raw or cooked.
‘Winterbor’ 🟩
Extremely frost-tolerant. Can survive mild Oklahoma winters.
🧠 Tips
Harvest outer leaves first; plant keeps producing from the center
Tastes better after a frost — sweeter, less bitter
Protect from cabbage worms with row cover or neem
Can overwinter with protection and light harvesting into spring
Works well in raised beds or containers