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Leafy greens
Kale
Tough, cold-hardy, and one of the last things standing in a winter garden.
Get your planting dates
This guide covers how to grow, harvest and keep kale, deliberately without sowing dates,
because the right date depends entirely on your climate zone. GardenBuddy's planting calendar
covers all seven Australian climate zones and will tell you exactly when to sow where you live.
Growing
Full sun to part shade, tolerates poor soil and frost better than almost any other leafy green. Flavour actually improves after a cold snap.
Common problems
- Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars, net or handpick
- Aphids clustering on new growth
- Can turn bitter and tough in sustained heat
Harvest
Take outer leaves as needed, leaving the growing tip intact. A single plant can keep producing for many months.
Preserving this crop
Best suited to:
Seed saving
Difficulty: Moderate. Crosses with other brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, etc.) if flowering at the same time, isolate by distance or timing. Biennial, needs a cold period before flowering.