Kale, Chinese Kale (Kailaan)

Variety Info.:

Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra

Days to Maturity: 60–70 days

Family: Brassicaceae

Native: Probably East Asia

Hardiness: Frost-tolerant annual

Plant Dimensions: 8″–10″ tall, 8″ wide

Variety Information: Thick, wide, wrinkled blue-green leaves. Small white flowers open from blue-green buds; usually eaten before flowers open. Looks like regular broccoli that didn’t make it to maturity. If allowed to flower completely, it is a very attractive plant.

Attributes: Good for Containers, Heat Tolerant

Sowing Info.:

When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks before your average last frost date. Also, in late summer or winter for cool-season harvest. Mild Climates: Sow in fall or winter for a cool-season harvest. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 60°–85°F.

When to Start Inside: Not recommended; transplants tend to bolt (prematurely flower).

Days to Emerge: 10–20 days

Seed Depth: ½”

Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 8″–10″

Row Spacing: 18″–24″

Thinning: When 2″ tall, thin to 1 every 8″ – 10″

Growing Info.:

Harvesting: Harvest in early morning if possible. Pick the center bud stalks first; side branches will continue to produce smaller flower buds for secondary harvesting. Whole plants can be harvested just before flower buds open when plant is 8″–10″ tall.