Spacing for kale

**Scorpio Rising** 9/6/2015, 11:15 am

What is the spacing for kale? I can't find it in my book!

**sanderson** 9/6/2015, 1:06 pm

Russian and Curly kale can get tall and full. I planted 2/sq in a zig zag pattern and had to keep cutting the outer leaves all winter. Poor me! They reached 2 1/2 feet tall by spring. It you have the room, 1/sq. I hope others at your latitude respond because this is at my lat.

Marc Iverson 9/6/2015, 2:19 pm

Dinosaur kale can take up a lot of room too -- the leaves can get to be a foot long or more.

CapeCoddess 9/6/2015, 2:39 pm

I usually pick them young so I stagger 4 and 5 Dwarf Blue Vates per sq. The Dino's are going in 1 per sq next year. This year I put one every 6 inches and some are leaning over now. I can put 2 or 3 Ripbors, but next year will probably try 1 Winterbor think. Russian/Winter red probably should go in at 1 or 2. If 2, put them in like on a die.

Spacing for kale Photo110

CC

yolos 9/6/2015, 8:54 pm

I planted winterbor kale at 2 per square last year. I just planted 4 per square and will probably remove 2 if needed.

**donnainzone5** 9/6/2015, 9:21 pm

I figure two per square. In the past, I've done nine, and it does get very crowded.

**Scorpio Rising** 9/6/2015, 9:27 pm

I think I will try 3/sq. due to short season. Thanks everybody! If I had longer, and it could get more mature, 1/sq would be my pick.

**Scorpio Rising** 9/6/2015, 9:29 pm

I think I will try 3/sq. due to short season. Thanks everybody! If I had longer, and it could get more mature, 1/sq would be my pick.

Marc Iverson 9/7/2015, 1:36 am

You'll be picking VERY young then. Even the dwarf kales can take up a square pretty easily.

**Scorpio Rising** 9/7/2015, 10:14 am

Really, Marc? Then I will go 1/sq because I don't get to my garden more than once/ week generally.

yolos 9/7/2015, 10:51 am

Depends what variety you plant. Here is Winterbor Kale on 10/18/14 planted 5 in 2' x 2' bed approx. 9/5/14. Due to the cool weather, it grew real slowly and bolted in the early spring.
Spacing for kale Kale_110

Here is Winterbor Kale planted 2 per square.
Spacing for kale Winter10

**Scorpio Rising** 9/7/2015, 10:58 am

It is a Burpee organic, Premier; packet says to space 18 inches, matures in 55 days.

CapeCoddess 9/7/2015, 12:30 pm

yolos wrote:I planted winterbor kale at 2 per square last year. I just planted 4 per square and will probably remove 2 if needed.

Good to know that 2 per square could work. Thanks. I usually over seed my kale and collards because they transplant very easily and can be moved to an empty square when one becomes available.

Sometime this month, I'll be transplanting a lot of them into my kitchen garden that is right out the back door so that I can harvest through the winter. These are also the ones that will give me seeds next spring for the following years winter sprouts and for seeding the spring crop.
CC

**Scorpio Rising** 3/5/2016, 12:59 pm

OK....my kale packet has mysteriously disappeared from my seed box. So, I am making a seed run. Having never grown kale, what should I buy? Winterbor? Or Dinosaur? Taste different? No kale experience here.

**trolleydriver** 3/5/2016, 1:46 pm

I couldn't decide what to Kale to buy so I bought an organic Kale Mix. There are 8 different Kale in the packet. It's going to be a surprise harvest.

**donnainzone5** 3/5/2016, 1:49 pm

I like the dwarf curly blue kale.

**Scorpio Rising** 3/5/2016, 2:38 pm

trolleydriver wrote:I couldn't decide what to Kale to buy so I bought an organic Kale Mix. There are 8 different Kale in the packet. It's going to be a surprise harvest.

Fun! The mesclun of kales!

CapeCoddess 3/5/2016, 2:42 pm

trolleydriver wrote:I couldn't decide what to Kale to buy so I bought an organic Kale Mix. There are 8 different Kale in the packet. It's going to be a surprise harvest.

TG, would you mind posting a photo of the ingredients on that kale mix packet so we can see what types it contains? It sounds like a winner!

SR, I agree with Donna, dwarf Curley Blue Vates is a good one to start with. It's easy to grow, small enough to put 4 in a square, and doesn't have an overwhelming flavor. Plus it's available for sale at my Job Lot or just about anywhere.
Wink

CC

**Scorpio Rising** 3/5/2016, 2:45 pm

donnainzone5 wrote:I like the dwarf curly blue kale.

Donna & CC: that is what I just bought at Walmart! I think I will put 4 or possibly 5/SF, my "squares" are really 12x18" because they are old window boxes that were already built.

Gonna hit the basement here in a few and put some more seeds in...thanks for the input! Exciting times Spacing for kale 998388915

**trolleydriver** 3/5/2016, 2:54 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:
trolleydriver wrote:I couldn't decide what to Kale to buy so I bought an organic Kale Mix. There are 8 different Kale in the packet. It's going to be a surprise harvest.
TG, would you mind posting a photo of the ingredients on that kale mix packet so we can see what types it contains? It sounds like a winner!

CC ... the packet does not state which kinds of Kale are included. So I went to the website of the seller (Greta's Organic Gardens) and she has exactly 8 different kinds for sale and I assume the mix contains some of each of them.

Here they are:

Dwarf Blue Curled
Jagallo Nero
Lacinato Blue
Lacinato Rainbow
Red Russian
Red Ursa
Vates
White Russian

CapeCoddess 3/5/2016, 2:57 pm

Oh TD, this is very exciting! I don't know half of those. I'll be googling and reading up on them. Psyched!
thanks

Well done, SR!
CC

**AtlantaMarie** 3/5/2016, 8:24 pm

Windmere had sent me some Red Russian. Got 3 seeded last night.

I've only had kale once. It was VERY large and, as a result, quite bitter. So I'm hoping that harvesting early & young will be nice & sweet(er).

**sanderson** 3/6/2016, 1:49 am

CapeCoddess wrote:Oh TD, this is very exciting! I don't know half of those. I'll be googling and reading up on them. Psyched!

Well done, SR!
CC

+! Exciting!

**Scorpio Rising** 3/6/2016, 10:40 am

AtlantaMarie wrote:Windmere had sent me some Red Russian. Got 3 seeded last night.

I've only had kale once. It was VERY large and, as a result, quite bitter. So I'm hoping that harvesting early & young will be nice & sweet(er).

Ditto. Baby kale is better I have heard.

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