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(Best months for planting Kale in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

• Easy to grow.
• Harvest in 50-65 days
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 30°C.
• Space plants: 40-50cm

Very winter hardy. Flavour is improved by frost. Ornamental varieties are colourful, and edible. Rotate with other crops to avoid clubroot infection.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Kale

Strong flavoured and nutritious vegetable.
Wash well and chop finely then steam.
A tomato or cheese sauce will mask the flavour if too strong.

Your comments and tips

15 Apr 10 Kenny M (New Zealand - temperate climate)

The only GREEN you need. Cheers Kenny.

21 Apr 10 Gemma Ewald (New Zealand - temperate climate)

The Dutch way of eating boerekool (kale) is : boil the kale together with the potato's and mash together, put a rookworst on top (dutch sausage) while cooking the potato's 10 min. before the potato's are ready.

18 Aug 10 caroline (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

I am a dummy - can you explain in a way I can understand when and how i should plant Kale I use it for my green drink smoothies so I would like to plant my own patch as Kale is not sold in the local stores at all ( i live in Thames) I would love for you to help me if you can.

11 Dec 10 Maureen Tepaa (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

can you please advise where i can purchase kale seeds as i am unable to purchase the vegie or the seeds up here in the North. Thanks

11 Dec 10 Liz (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

Maureen, try one of the online sites like Kaiwaka Organics (previously Koanga) or Kings Seeds - they both list kale seeds

22 Feb 11 Murray (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Kale was the only vegetable that would grow through a Central Otago winter - in my youth (1950s). Minus 10 was no problem and it tasted better after a frost. In summer, crop regularly in young leaves and if they get too big and coarse, put them in the deep-freeze for ten to fifteen minutes. As with all greens steam for two to three minutes only - otherwise the nutrition lessens.

20 Aug 11 Bernie (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

Kale grows good in Taranaki, worth while growing, whats more it freezes, I use the frozen stuff in Lasagne, also put through blender an put in soup great stuff

29 Oct 11 Brett (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Kale is brilliant I want to find some Tree Kale in New Zealand though! Tree Kale is a perennial kale that grows 6feet tall, barely ever goes to seed and can be propagated by cuttings. I have found Walking Stick cabbage/kale but no Tree Kale. Does anyone know where I could find some Tree Kale cuttings? Thanks

13 Feb 12 Pete (New Zealand - temperate climate)

You guys, This is too cool! The only website with usable info on how to plant things. Well done, you are on my bookmark list! Does anybody know where I can find Lavender Tree's? (Heteropyxis Natalensis I think it is called)