×
  • Home
  • Daily
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Guides
  • Cookbooks
    • Beverages
    • Bakery
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizers
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Soups
    • Entrées
    • Side Dishes & Sauces
    • Desserts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Sponsor Program
  • Give a Gift
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
  • Manage Account
  • Authors
  • Keyword Index
  • Join

Food Gardening Network

Growing Good Food at Home

Give a GiftJoin
Mequoda Publishing Network
  • Daily
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Guides
  • Cookbooks
    • Beverages
    • Bakery
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizers
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Soups
    • Entrées
    • Side Dishes & Sauces
    • Desserts
  • Sign In
  • Search

Introduction to Kale

Introduction to Kale

By Norann Oleson

Freshly harvested kale in a basket

Freshly harvested kale in a basket

Freshly harvested kale in a basket

Freshly harvested kale in a basket

Ah, kale. Superfood. Queen of Greens. High praise, indeed, for a garden crop that is among the easiest-growing of all vegetables. Kale is as high on the nutrition list as it is low on the maintenance list. Whether your goal is to grow a more diverse set of greens for salad, you want something healthy and hearty for soup, or you love to pack your morning smoothie with nutritious goodness, kale is ready to fill the role.

Kale’s formal classification is Brassica oleracea var. acephala. Acephala means “headless”—as compared to kale’s cousin the cabbage, which forms a tight head as it grows.

Kale is also cousin to the other members of the Brassica genus, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. Keep that in mind when you plan your planting; Brassicas shouldn’t be planted in the same place for three to four years because they’re all susceptible to the same soilborne diseases.

Kale’s a cool-weather-loving crop, so you can plant in the spring and fall and get two harvests, depending on the zone you live in. Kale doesn’t take up a lot of space, and you can grow it anywhere you get a full day of sunlight.

Kale likes soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, so be sure to get your soil tested before you start sowing seeds. A lot of gardeners skip this crucial step and often find themselves disappointed with their harvest. Since different plants have different soil needs, it’s essential you have as much information about the composition of your soil as you can get.

University extension centers are usually your best source for a soil test; some vocational schools and garden centers provide the service as well. But a university lab will give you a detailed breakdown on your soil makeup, what it means, and how to adjust it for what you want to grow.

Sure, you could get one of those soil probes from the hardware store, but they’re no substitute for a thorough, scientific soil test. Plan ahead, take your soil samples, and send them in for analysis. Your garden—and your pantry—will thank you!

If you live in a zone that’s too warm for growing kale outdoors, consider growing some indoors for salad greens and smoothies. You can harvest the plants while they’re young and enjoy the nutritious, delicious leaves!

A Brief History of Kale

Kale growing in the garden

Kale growing in the garden

Kale may seem like a relative newcomer on the food scene, but it’s been on the menu of foodies in-the-know for at least two thousand years. The ancient Greeks and Romans grew and enjoyed kale of all shapes and flavors—broad leaves, curly leaves, with flavors both sweet and sharp.

How kale made the journey from its native territory of the eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor and out to Britain and France is a topic of botanical debate. Some think the Romans took it with them as they expanded their empire; others credit the Celts beating the Romans to it. Either way, kale has consistently set down roots wherever it’s been introduced.

Its frost-tolerant nature makes it a natural for colder climes. In Germany, there’s an annual celebration dedicated to all things kale. In the Netherlands, there’s a traditional winter dish of mashed potatoes and kale. And in Scotland, where kale has been a staple for hundreds of years, the word “kail” in one local dialect means food. And if you’re “off your kail,” you’re under the weather.

Of course, now that we know all the health benefits of eating kale, it sounds like the Scots were on to something!

Did you know about the history of kale? Are you excited to try growing it? Let us know what you think.

« Introduction to Oranges
Introduction to Rhubarb »

Tags

growing kale, kale, potatoes, salad greens

Comments
  • Deborah R. August 17, 2022

    Is there a way to print an entire guide?

    Reply
    • Amanda M. May 23, 2023

      Sorry we don’t offer PDFs but we do have a print function on each page that helps format it for print.

      Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Give a Gift

FREEBIE!

With your FREEBIE, you’ll also receive regular email messages from the Food Gardening Network. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Your email address is private. We promise never to sell, rent or disclose your email address to third parties.

Freebies

  • Printable Composting 101 Charts
  • Printable Tomato Garden-to-Table Chart
  • Printable Kitchen Garden Planting Charts
  • A Printable Companion Planting Chart
  • Printable Seed Germination Temperature Chart
  • Plants for Bug Control Chart
  • Planning Your Perfect Food Garden
  • Gardening in Every Season
  • How to Start a Freedom Garden
  • Recipes from Your Garden
  • The Best Way to Grow Tomatoes
  • How to Master Spice and Herb Gardening at Home
  • Growing Vegetables Indoors for Beginners
  • 15 Easiest Fruits to Grow at Home
  • How to Grow a Vegetable Garden

Browse Topics

  • Composting
  • Container Gardening
  • Easy Healthy Recipes
  • Food Preservation
  • Garden Design
  • Garden Tools
  • Growing Fruits & Berries
  • Indoor Gardening
  • Pests & Diseases
  • Seeds & Seedlings
  • Soil & Fertilizer
  • Spice & Herb Gardening
  • Vegetable Gardening
  • Watering & Irrigation

We will be attending the following shows in 2023:

  • MANTS in Baltimore, MD
  • Connecticut Flower Show
  • Vermont Flower Show
  • Philadelphia Flower Show
  • Garden Center Conference & Expo
Click here to schedule a time to visit with us at the show!

Authors:

  • Bill Dugan
  • Amanda MacArthur
  • Don Nicholas
  • Norann Oleson
  • Christy Page

Enter Your Log In Credentials

This setting should only be used on your home or work computer.

  • Lost your password? Create New Password
  • No account? Sign up

Need Assistance?

Call Food Gardening Network Customer Service at
(800) 777-2658

Food Gardening Network is an active member of the following industry associations:

  • American Horticultural Society
  • GardenComm Logo
  • MCMA logo
  • Renewd logo
  • Manage Account
  • Join
  • About Food Gardening Network
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Sponsor Program
  • Give a Gift
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

Food Gardening Network
99 Derby Street, Suite 200
Hingham, MA 02043
support@foodgardening.mequoda.com

To learn more about our Email Marketing and Broadcasting Services, Exchange Program, or to become a marketing partner with any of our publications, click here to contact us at Mequoda Publishing Network.

FREE E-Newsletter for You!

Discover how to grow, harvest, and eat good food from your own garden—with our FREE e-newsletter, delivered directly to your email inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Powered by
Mequoda Publishing Network
copyright © 2023 Mequoda Systems, LLC

Food Gardening Network® and Food Gardening Magazine® are registered trademarks of Mequoda Systems, LLC.