Norann Oleson, Editorial Director of Food Gardening Network

Welcome to the easy-growing world of kale!

Kale’s a great crop to grow—especially for gardeners who live in regions with frost. Kale loves the cold—it even tastes better after a little frost! Not many garden crops are that laid back when the temperature drops. But really, wherever you are, if you are of a mind to grow kale, there’s a way to do it. Read on!

First is the collection’s Introduction, where you’ll learn some of the basics about kale. You’ll also learn about the history behind the origin of this great green.

Next, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about growing kale plants—from the different types of kale to the best way to start growing them (seed? seedling? cutting?) to watering, fertilizing, and harvesting your leaves for maximum enjoyment.

There’s a lot to know about growing kale plants, so even if you’re a veteran kale grower, you might learn something new. There may be some different varieties you’d like to try growing! We aim to gather everything there is to know about growing kale into this single collection.

We have several fun Plant Profiles with popular and intriguing varieties listed, including options for gardeners around the country and those who want to grow kale plants in containers.

We’ve chosen these particular plant profiles to give you a representative sampling of some of the best kale plants in their particular categories. If you’d like us to include another kale cultivar that appeals to you, please let me know by commenting below.

After all, this is Food Gardening Network, and we want to include the knowledge of all our gardening readers in everything we do. Your input is just as important to us as anything we come up with on our own.

We do think you’ll love the kale Recipes we’ve compiled for enjoying the bounty of your harvest. Each recipe offers a delicious way to enjoy your homegrown kale—from salads to smoothies and beyond.

After that, you’ll be interested to learn how kale can benefit your health in Nutrition Facts about Kale. Kale has great antioxidant properties, and it’s packed with vitamin C!

Then there are the Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Kale where you’ll learn how kale may help heart health, prevent cancer, and contribute to better digestive health.

Because we want you to have everything there is to know about kale at your fingertips, we’ve included a Resources section that’s complementary to this collection. Learn more about tools specific for growing kale, and kitchen tools that will come in handy after you’ve harvested your kale.

As always, we’ve included a brief Glossary in case you need a deeper explanation of any key terms. Be sure to let us know if there’s something else you need explained.

I’m off to make some tasty Krunchy Kale Chips right now, but I hope you’re ready to dive in and become a master kale grower!