Kale 'Kapral' (Brassica oleracea) – Hardy Vegetable Plants (12 Plants in 2 x 6-Cell Trays)

Kale 'Kapral' is a tough, productive curly kale that stands outside through hard frost and keeps cropping from late summer well into winter. It is an easy first vegetable for a beginner and a reliable one for experienced growers.

Plants are vigorous and upright, with dense, dark green, crinkled leaves that are good for cooking, juicing and salads. Kale is among the hardiest vegetables you can grow, and the leaves are often said to taste better after a frost.

You get 12 plants, growing in two plastic 6-cell trays with one plant to each cell. They are ready to pot on or plant out into a vegetable bed, raised bed or large container. Choose a spot in full sun to partial shade with fertile, well-drained but moisture-retentive soil, and space the plants about 45cm apart. Give them some shelter from strong wind, because the plants grow tall and top heavy.

Water regularly in dry spells, but avoid waterlogging. A balanced feed when planting out encourages strong leafy growth, and picking the outer leaves often keeps the plants producing. Net them against pigeons and cabbage white butterflies. Kale can irritate skin and can harm dogs and cats if eaten, so keep it away from pets.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Kale, Curly Kale
• Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea Acephala Group
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: Approx. 45-60cm tall and 30-45cm wide (variety dependent)
• Growth Habit: Upright, bushy leafy brassica
• Perfect For: Vegetable beds, raised beds, large containers, kitchen gardens
• Foliage: Dense, dark green, crinkled leaves
• Planting Position: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil
• Hardiness: Hardy, tolerates frost and cold temperatures
• Seasonal Interest: Harvest from late summer through winter
• Type: Hardy vegetable