Kale Seeds

KaleGrowing suggestions for kale seeds

Sow kale seeds from March in modules/pots and transplant after 4-5 weeks. Make sure to plant right up to the first true leaves and ‘firm-in’ in the plants well when planting – they will not be happy in loose soil. Alternatively direct sow outdoors from May in drills 50cm apart and thin to final spacing. Thinnings are a delicious addition to salad.

Kale growing calendar

MonthJFMAMJJASOND
Sow
Transplant
Harvest

Crop History

Kale has been known and grown for over 2,000 years. It has many names in many languages, as a result of its great antiquity and widespread use. The cultivation of this leafy vegetable of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) was encouraged during World War II because it provided vital nutrients and was available to supplement rationing as it is easy to grow. Not least has it recently been considered a ‘super food’ because the nutrients in kale can help boost well-being and prevent a range of health problems.

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  • Nero di Toscana KaleNero di Toscana Kale

    Kale – Nero di Toscana (Organic)

    £2.50£3.50
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    Kale – Nero di Toscana (Organic)

    Upright plants producing lots of heavily savoyed dark green leaves. Surely this is the king of kales! We always grow masses of Nero di Toscana, we cant get enough of it. It has been a staple of Italian cuisine for centuries and heavily features in the iconic ‘Ribollita’ Tuscan bean stew.

    Although usually steamed or stir-fried, kale leaves can also be massaged raw with a little olive oil, salt and lemon juice and made into a salad. Well worth a try if you haven’t already!
    (Approximate seed count – 150)

    £2.50£3.50
  • Dwarf Green KaleDwarf Green Kale

    Kale – Dwarf Green (Organic)

    £2.10
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    Kale – Dwarf Green (Organic)

    A hardy kale with a compact growth habit and tightly curled leaves. A deep green leaf colour and frilled edges with a succulent delicate flavour make this variety an attractive kale to grow. It is extremely hardy and withstands frosts in the winter when no other brassica stays standing while also producing well when sown in spring for a summer harvest. It is a Scottish heritage kale dating back to the 19th century, originally known as ‘Dwarf Curlies’ or ‘Scotch’ kale. It grows to only 40cm high making it perfect for windswept sites or for growing in containers.
    (Approximate seed count – 150)

    £2.10
  • Dazzling Blue KaleDazzling Blue Kale

    Kale – Dazzling Blue (Organic)

    £2.85
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    Kale – Dazzling Blue (Organic)

    Cavolo Nero-type kale of dazzling blue and green coloured leaves with exceptional pink midribs. This showy kale was bred by Hank Keogh from Avoca Farm in Oregon, USA. He back-crossed ‘Lacinato rainbow’ with the Wild Garden Seed ‘Lacinato’. In looks it resembles a Cavolo Nero kale and it has stunning blue, green and pink colours. The leaves are savoyed and have underturned margins, the plant grows upright and is very cold-hardy – more so than any other Cavolo Nero type kales. Tender and tasty, great for sautéing, steaming or finely chopped in a salad. A solid vegetable for the home or market garden.
    (Approximate seed count – 200)

    £2.85
  • Tuscan Rainbow KaleTuscan Rainbow Kale

    Kale – Tuscan Rainbow (Organic)

    £2.30£4.80
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    Kale – Tuscan Rainbow (Organic)

    Red, purple and blue-green leaf colours with slight ruffling on the edges, cold resistant and vigorous. A Frank Morton cross from Wild Garden Seed in Oregon, USA of Cavolo Nero ‘Lacinato’ and Redbor hybrid kale. The majority of the plants have savoyed, blue-green leaves with ruffled edges, others are more purple or more white, some have more ruffling and others less. When grown outdoors the colours will intensify with the cold. It is a hardy and very beautiful kale tasting. sweet and aromatic.

    We planted ‘Lacinato rainbow’ in our 2018 trial and relished in this diverse variety that tastes amazing and is more funky and cold-resistant than the usual Cavolo Nero

    £2.30£4.80
  • Red Russian KaleRed Russian Kale

    Kale – Red Russian (Organic)

    £2.10£4.40
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    Kale – Red Russian (Organic)

    Recognisable by its flat, purple-tinged and tooth-shaped leaves; this kale is hardy, frost tolerant and very versatile. A productive plant, it reaches 90cm in height and can be harvested throughout the winter becoming sweeter after a frost. The tender young leaves are great in salads and larger leaves are attractive as well as delicious. This kale is so tasty you can eat it on its own, but it’s also a perfect addition to smoothies, salads and stir fries. You can get in the habit of adding it to most meals! In Scotland, kale used to be a mainstay of the traditional diet. So much so that to be “off one’s kail” means to feel too ill to eat.

    £2.10£4.40
  • Pentland Brigg KalePentland Brigg Kale

    Kale – Pentland Brigg (Organic)

    £2.10
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    Kale – Pentland Brigg (Organic)

    Pentland Brigg is a superb heritage kale which is the result of a cross between Dwarf Green and Thousand Headed kale. With parents such as these it’s no wonder this is such a great variety.

    In form it is very much in between it’s parents, being slight less curled than Dwarf Green but more curled than Thousand Headed. It is extremely cold hardy and produces an abundance of sweet and delicious shoots in the spring which can be eaten like sprouting broccoli (known as kale raab).

    Growth height 60cm
    (Approximate seed count – 150)

    £2.10
  • Bear Necessities KaleBear Necessities Kale

    Kale – Bear Necessities (Organic)

    £2.10
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    Kale – Bear Necessities (Organic)

    An unusual ultra-frilly Red-Russian type. Bear Necessities has leaves unlike any other kale as it was bred from a cross between a mizuna and a kale. It’s ultra frilly leaves lend themselves to salads when young and are great cooked when larger.

    The leaves have a high volume and surface area which means they stir-fry particularly well, easily getting coated in delicious flavours and holding their shape.
    (Approximate seed count – 200)

    £2.10

Showing all 7 results