Organic Vates Kale Seeds

Vates kale produces short, compact plants with deeply curled blue-green leaves shaped wonderfully for kale chips, raw salads, and soups. This slow-bolting variety is exceptionally hardy.

Kale can be grown year-round in milder climates but is most tender and prolific in cooler weather. Watch for leaf-eating caterpillars when plants are young—spray plants with an organic product or use row cover for pest control. Vates kale is well-suited for containers or raised beds, growing just over 1′ tall.

Planting by Zones

Zones 9-10

• Vates kale is a cool-season plant that does best in cool temperatures. It is happiest in winter and early spring during the seasonal rains but can be grown year-round in milder climates. Vates kale can be easily direct-seeded or transplanted out.

Zones 2-8

• Plant from early spring until about three months before the first fall frost. Crop protection like row covers can extend the growing season.

Planting Kale

• Kale is easy to plant directly in the soil or into starter pots and transplanted out.
• To direct sow, plant seeds in well-worked soil that has been deeply watered and is debris-free. Cover with 1/4″ of finely sifted soil.
• If you are planting seeds in starter pots, plant into thoroughly moist high-quality seed starting soil. Place the seeds on the top of the soil and cover them with 1/4″ of finely sifted soil.
• Once your kale has germinated and the first set of true leaves show, fertilize with an organic liquid fertilizer. When the plants are 3-4″ tall, you can plant them out into the garden.

Growing Kale 

• Grow in full sun during the cooler part of the year. In warmer months, kale can take some shade. If the weather is particularly hot, you can use shade cloth to protect the crop.
• Kale is easy to grow and does not suffer from many pest or disease issues. Plant with adequate spacing to ensure good airflow around the plants. This will help with aphids and whiteflies. 

Harvesting Kale 

• Harvest at any point that the leaves are worth eating. In Zones 9 and 10, they can grow very tall because of our long growing season.

Growing Kale in Containers

• Vates kale is a great container crop. Make sure your container is at least 20″ deep. Keep in mind containers will dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture. Mulch heavily on the top layer of soil in the pot to keep the soil from drying out or heating up too much.

Southern California Pro-tips

• In areas of Zones 9 and 10, kale can grow year-round but will be less productive and tasty during the hot months.
• Mulch heavily around your plants to ensure the soil does not dry out or heat up too much.
• Spray plants with a hard jet of water to remove any aphids you find. Check the underside of leaves!

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Since kale is a long-term crop, plant in an area where tons of flowers can surround it, we love planting kale with nasturtium, alyssum, borage, and cosmos.

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics!
• Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube page!
• Having pest issues? Check out in-depth information for pests that can be an issue for kale at the UC Integrated Pest Management site.

Don’t just grow Vates kale in your garden this year! Fill your salad bowl with tons of flavors, colors, and textures of dark leafy greens. Try our Giant Red Mustard, Portuguese Kale, Ethiopian Kale, and more by shopping all our Greens.