Summer Kale blend Kale Vegetables Seeds - West Coast Seeds

PRODUCT DETAILS

This selection of kale varieties that thrive in the warmth of summer is intended for succession planting, starting early in the year. Sow short rows at three-week intervals for a perpetual supply of baby greens, and allow half the crop to continue maturing into the cool weather at the end of summer. Grow the Summer Kale Blend in full sun to partial shade, in the garden beds, or patio containers. Choose containers depending on the size intended for harvest - larger containers for larger plants. Enjoy tender baby leaf kale in salads and wraps, or chop into soups for added nutrition. This blend includes Red Russian, Vates Blue, and Lacinato.

• Matures in 40-60 days.
• For succession planting
• Baby kale all summer
• Good variety of colors
• Matures in 40-60 days

All About Summer Kale Blend

Latin

Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Family: Brassicaceae

Difficulty

Easy

Season & Zone

Season: Cool season
Exposure: Full sun
Zone: Winter hardy to Zone 6.

Timing

Direct sow in early spring to mid-summer for summer to winter harvests. Or start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost and transplant out as soon as the soil warms up. Optimal soil temperature: 10-30°C (50-85°F). Seeds should germinate in 7-10 days.

Starting

Sow 3-4 seeds 5mm (¼”) deep in each spot where a plant is to grow. Thin to the strongest plant. Space 45-60cm (18-24″) apart in rows 75-90cm (30-36″) apart.

Growing

Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Add lime to the bed 3 weeks prior to sowing. Kale likes well-drained, fertile soil high in organic matter. This plant prefers plentiful, consistent moisture. Drought is tolerable, but the quality and flavor of leaves can suffer. Mix ¼ cup of complete organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each transplant, or use 1 cup beneath every 3m (10′) of seed furrow.

Harvest

Kale and collards can both be grown as a cut and come again crop for salad mixes by direct-seeding and cutting baby leaves. They will re-grow if you pick leaves from the bottom up, as you need them. Continue harvesting lower leaves as they mature—plants will keep producing all season. Kale can overwinter in many areas. In fact, the leaves get sweeter after frost, though growth will slow. In spring, the surviving plants start to flower, so eat the delicious flowering steps and buds.

Diseases & Pests

Protect from cabbage moths and other insect pests with floating row cover. Prevent disease with a strict 4-year crop rotation, avoiding planting Brassicas in the same spot more than once every four years.

Companion Planting

All Brassicas benefit from chamomile, dill, mint, rosemary, and sage. Avoid planting near eggplants, peppers, potatoes, or tomatoes, as the acidic soil these plants thrive in can cause problems for Brassicas.