Prizm - Best of all, the nearly stemless stalks re-leaf quickly, providing a continuous kale supply throughout the season. With a slightly nutty flavor, the tender leaves taste delicious fresh but also hold up well when cooked. You'll love creating healthy smoothies, salads, and meals with Prizm.
Winterbor - One of the most winter hardy kales, Winterbor has finely curled, thick, blue-green leaves. Very vigorous, it can grow. A magnificent early spring and late fall kale.
Scarletbor - A lovely curled “red” kale that produces lots of delicious, frilly leaves and takes on the chill of winter with stride! Pretty in the flower garden or on the plate.
Light requirements Full sun is ideal, but plants yield in part shade.
Planting Space 12 to 24 inches apart, depending on type. (Read the stick tag that comes with the plant for specific spacing recommendations.)
Soil requirements These greens need moist, nutrient-rich soil. Amend soil with 4 to 6 inches of compost or other organic matter prior to planting. Soil pH should be 6.5 to 6.8.
Water requirements Keep soil consistently moist throughout the growing season. Aim for 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week through rainfall or irrigation. Mulch soil to reduce water evaporation and keep leaves clean from splashing soil.
Frost-fighting plan Established plants tolerate hard frosts and produce new leaves all winter long in zones 7 to 10. Frost-kissed leaves boast sweeter flavor. Protect newly planted seedlings from late spring or early fall frosts by covering plants with a frost blanket.
Common issues Watch out for cabbageworms, harlequin bugs, slugs, grasshoppers, and cabbage aphids. Kale is a cold crop, so clubroot can attack plants. Kale can be slow to take off in the garden. Spring plantings may linger until soil warms; fall crops can stall a bit with warm air.
Harvesting Harvest leaves when they are up to 10 inches long. Younger, shorter leaves have the mildest flavor. Pick lower leaves first, and the plant will continue to produce new upper leaves.
Storage Refrigerate unwashed leaves in a lightly damp paper towel slipped into a very loosely closed plastic bag and store up to 5 days.