Zone 8 Kale Plants Choosing Kale For Zone 8 Gardens

How do you grow kale in Zone 8?
How do you pick kale from your garden?
What is the best kale to grow?
What should I plant kale in?
What can you not plant with kale?
What can I plant in Zone 8?
Will Kale regrow after cutting?
How long do kale plants last?
Can you eat kale after it flowers?
Does Kale like full sun?
Which is the most tender kale?
Can I plant spinach and kale together?

How do you grow kale in Zone 8?

In USDA zones 8-10, kale can be continually planted throughout the fall. Fall is the best time to plant kale in regions where winter temperatures don't dip below the teens, or kale can be grown in a cold frame in northern climates. Set plants out in full sun to partial shade.

How do you pick kale from your garden?

How to Harvest Kale

Kale is ready to harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand.
Pick about one fistful of leaves per harvest. ...
Avoid picking the terminal bud (found at the top center of the plant) because this will help to keep the plant productive.
Kale will continue growing until it's 20°F.

What is the best kale to grow?

'Lacinato' kale is the best-tasting cooked variety. Kale is known for its ability to withstand winter weather. 'Vates' is one of the most winter-hardy kales you can grow. Kale is a standout source of calcium, magnesium, vitamin K, the B vitamin folic acid, and beta carotene.

What should I plant kale in?

In-ground gardens, raised beds, and containers are all excellent growing options. Space kale 18 to 24 inches apart in an area with full sun and well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.5 to 6.8. Improve native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.

What can you not plant with kale?

Kale (Brassica oleracea) is a leafy green vegetable and member of the cabbage family. Varieties include lacinato, red Russian, and dinosaur kale. Avoid planting kale with other brassicas (like broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and Swiss chard), as they can fall prey to the same pests and diseases.

What can I plant in Zone 8?

Plant beets, cauliflower, carrots, kale, and lettuce in mid-August, and peas and spinach in early September. For zone 8 vegetable gardening, all of these should go into outdoor beds by the end of September.

Will Kale regrow after cutting?

So long as you continue to harvest in this fashion, the plant will continue to produce new leaves from the top as it grows taller. But if you harvest the leaves from the top, they you will stunt the plants growth!

How long do kale plants last?

So How Long Does a Kale Plant Live? Normally Kale is biennial, so it will only live for two years. But there are Kale variants, that can live more than two years like Tree Kale for example.

Can you eat kale after it flowers?

When kale begins to bolt, the leaves become more tough and bitter, and suffer a diminished nutrient count. ... Even after the leaves have turned bitter, the flowers the plant produces are pretty tasty, and can be eaten like you would broccoli florets.

Does Kale like full sun?

One of the most nutritious shade loving vegetables around, kale thrives in just a few hours of sunlight per day. Kale is also extremely cold tolerant, making it a great crop for fall harvests. ... Don't expect huge leaves in the shade, but tender baby chard leaves are amply produced with only three hours of sun per day.

Which is the most tender kale?

Tuscan Kale aka Lacinato Kale aka Dinosaur Kale

This is the kale we love to cook—and not cook—the most. It has a deeper color and is slightly thinner and more tender than curly kale, making it more versatile—it cooks more quickly and requires less massaging for use in raw preparations.

Can I plant spinach and kale together?

Kale and spinach both provide a reliable leafy green in the cooler seasons. ... Kale and spinach grow well together in a combined winter greens garden because they share the same cultural requirements. The plants grow quickly, with both greens usually ready for the first harvest within 50 to 70 days.