Kale — Brassica oleracea var. acephala

layout: base.njk title: Kale description: Growing Kale in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: cool-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

Curly kale plants with ornamental green and purple leaves

Type: Biennial (grown as annual)
Family: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
Sun: Full sun to part shade (6+ hours sun, afternoon shade in summer)
Water: Moderate (1-1.5" per week, consistent moisture)
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
Hardiness: Zones 2-11 (extremely cold hardy, can overwinter)

🌱 Expected Yield

Per plant: 1/2-1 lb per harvest (outer leaves, cut-and-come-again). Full plant harvest: 1-2 lbs.
Per 10' row: 8-15 lbs sustained harvest over season. Winter harvest: 3-5 lbs per 10' row.
Per season: With succession planting and overwintering: 20-40 lbs per 10' row (year-round possible with protection).

🏺 Heirloom Varieties (5-10+)

'Lacinato' (Dinosaur Kale, Tuscan Kale, Black Cabbage)

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com), Johnny's Selected Seeds (johnnyseeds.com)
Days: 60 days
Notes: Italian heirloom dating to 18th century (possibly older). Dark blue-green, heavily textured leaves resembling dinosaur skin. Extremely cold hardy (to 10°F or lower). Sweetens with frost. Tender texture, excellent for kale chips. Standard for Italian ribollita soup.

'Winterbor'

Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Territorial Seed Company (territorialseed.com)
Days: 62 days
Notes: Hybrid, F1. Curly, blue-green leaves. Extremely cold hardy (to -10°F with protection). Uniform, vigorous growth. High yield. Less bitter than some varieties after frost. Excellent for fall and winter harvest. Popular with market growers.

'Red Russian'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (southernexposure.com)
Days: 55 days
Notes: Russian heirloom brought to America in 1800s. Flat, serrated leaves with purple veins and stems. Cold hardy (to 10°F). Sweet, tender texture (less fibrous than curly types). Purple color intensifies in cold weather. Beautiful in ornamental plantings and edible landscapes.

'Dwarf Blue Curled Vates'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Burpee (burpee.com)
Days: 55 days
Notes: American heirloom from 1800s. Compact, curly blue-green leaves. Cold hardy (to 10-15°F). Dwarf habit (12-15" tall), good for containers. Slow to bolt. Mild flavor when young, stronger when mature. Reliable producer.

'Red Ursa'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, High Mowing Organic Seeds (highmowingseeds.com)
Days: 60 days
Notes: Cross between Red Russian and Siberian kale. Large, frilly leaves with red-purple veins. Extremely cold hardy. Sweetens with frost. Fast growing, vigorous. Beautiful ornamental value. Mild, sweet flavor. Can reach 3-4' in ideal conditions.

'Nero di Toscana' (Black Tuscany)

Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange, Franchi Seeds (franchiseeds.com)
Days: 65 days
Notes: Traditional Italian variety, synonym for Lacinato. Dark green, almost black leaves. Long, narrow, heavily blistered texture. Cold hardy. Sweet, nutty flavor. Classic for Italian cuisine. Slower growing but exceptional quality.

'White Russian'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
Days: 58 days
Notes: Russian heirloom. Similar to Red Russian but with white/light green veins. Flat, oakleaf-shaped leaves. Cold hardy, tender texture. Sweet, mild flavor. Less common than Red Russian but equally productive.

'Siberian'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
Days: 55 days
Notes: Russian heirloom. Large, flat, serrated leaves. White veins. Extremely cold hardy (to 5°F or lower). Fast growing. Tender, sweet flavor. Bolts more quickly in spring than other varieties. Excellent for fall planting and spring harvest.

'Blue Scotch Curled'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
Days: 60 days
Notes: Scottish heirloom. Tightly curled, blue-green leaves. Compact habit. Cold hardy. Fine-textured, good for garnishes. Classic "curly kale" appearance. Strong flavor when mature, mild when young.

'Premier'

Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Territorial Seed Company
Days: 52 days
Notes: Hybrid, F1. Dark green, semi-savoyed leaves. Early maturing. Cold tolerant. Uniform growth, high yield. Less bitter than many varieties. Good for baby leaf production and full-size harvest. Bolt resistant.

🌾 Seed Saving

Method: Kale is biennial—requires vernalization (cold period) to flower. Leave healthiest plants in ground over winter (mulch heavily) or dig and store in cool place, replanting in spring. In spring, plants send up 3-5' flower stalks with clusters of yellow, four-petaled flowers (typical brassica cross shape).

Bees and other insects pollinate heavily. Seed pods (siliques) form 4-6 weeks after flowering, turning from green to tan/brown when mature. Cut stalks when most pods are brown but before shattering.

Hang in paper bags or on tarps in dry, ventilated area 2-3 weeks. Thresh by beating bags or rolling stalks with garden roller. Winnow by pouring between bowls in breeze to separate seeds from chaff. - Isolation distance: 2 miles minimum (up to 5 miles for pure seed).

Kale cross-pollinates readily with other Brassica oleracea varieties (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, collards—though collards are B. oleracea var. acephala like kale, so same species).

Cage isolated plants or grow only one variety for seed. - Viability: 4-5 years when stored in cool, dry, dark conditions in airtight containers. Kale seeds are medium-sized and store reasonably well. - Special notes: Save seed from minimum 5-10 plants to maintain genetic diversity. Select for cold hardiness, flavor, leaf quality, bolt resistance.

For overwintering, choose the hardiest plants and mulch heavily with straw or leaves. Some varieties bolt more easily—avoid saving seed from plants that bolt prematurely. In zone 6b/7a, fall-planted kale will naturally vernalize and flower in spring if left in ground..

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead