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Vegetable · Easy to grow

Kale

Brassica oleracea var. acephala

A tough leafy brassica that grows through Adelaide's autumn and winter and keeps producing for months. Pick lower leaves regularly and leave the top to keep growing. Cold weather sweetens the leaves; summer brings bolting and caterpillars.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (3)

  • Red RussianFlat, purple-veined leaves; tender for salads
  • Scotch Curled / Dwarf Blue CurledFrilly leaves, very cold hardy; compact
  • Tuscan (Cavolo Nero)Dark, blistered leaves; tender and great for cooking; long harvest

Neighbours

Grows well with

Keep away from

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    45 cm apart, seed 10 mm deep. Full sun or part shade.

  2. Water

    Regular.

  3. Feed

    Liquid feed monthly.

  4. Pick, from about 8 weeks

    Pick lower leaves.

Good to know

  • Harvest from the bottom up, always leaving 6 or so top leaves
  • Feed every few weeks with a liquid fertiliser for steady leaf growth
  • Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads

Common problems

  • Cabbage white caterpillars and cabbage mothinsect mesh from planting, hand pick; use a Bt-based registered product following label directions if needed
  • Aphids and whiteflyhose off, encourage ladybirds and lacewings
  • Bolting in springkeep picking leaves; pull plants once flower stems appear and leaves turn bitter

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about kaleAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing kaleQuestions, tips and harvests from the community
Where this information comes from
  • Australian seed company regional sowing charts (temperate zone) (germination, low confidence)
  • ABC Gardening Australia fact sheets (growing, low confidence)
  • ABC Gardening Australia plant finder: Kale (growing, medium confidence, checked 27 Oct 2026)
  • Sustainable Gardening Australia: planting guides (sowing window, low confidence)

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 27 Oct 2026. Version 2.