Vates Blue Curled Kale is the ornamental heavyweight of the kale world, with leaves so deeply frilled and nearly serrated they look almost lacy, yet it's far too delicious to relegate to a garnish plate. This compact cultivar grows 18 to 36 inches tall and reaches harvest in just 55 days, thriving across all hardiness zones from 1 to 13. Its rigid, toothsome texture holds firm when braised or stirred into soups, never wilting away like less crinkly varieties, and the plants stay productive for weeks of continuous harvesting.
Full Sun
Moderate
1-13
36in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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The undulating, heavily ruffled leaves of Vates Blue Curled are so visually striking they've long been used as plate garnish, but that's a genuine waste of what is genuinely delicious kale. The crinkled texture isn't just for show; it translates to a firm, toothsome bite that holds its own in braised dishes and potato soups where softer greens would disappear. Compact yet prolific plants deliver multiple harvests from a small footprint, making it efficient for gardeners working with limited space.
Vates Blue Curled shines in applications where its rigid leaf structure becomes an asset rather than a novelty. Braising brings out its full flavor and tender-yet-toothy character, while its firm texture makes it excellent in potato-based soups where it won't dissolve into mush. The leaves also perform beautifully in stir-fries, maintaining their structure and presence even with high heat and quick cooking.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors in a seed-starting mix at a soil temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Start seeds 4 to 6 weeks before your intended transplant date to develop sturdy seedlings ready for outdoor conditions.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors once they have developed true leaves and nighttime temperatures remain above freezing. Space plants 18 inches apart in rows spaced 12 inches apart.
Direct sow seeds outdoors once soil is workable in spring, and succession sow every 2 to 3 weeks for continuous harvests through fall. Press seeds into the soil surface or cover lightly, as light aids germination.
Begin harvesting individual outer leaves once plants are established and reach 10 to 12 inches tall, typically around 55 days from planting. Pinch or cut outer leaves cleanly at the base, working from the bottom up and leaving the growing center intact. This encourages continued production from the compact rosette. You can harvest for weeks by regularly removing mature outer leaves, allowing inner leaves to develop and mature for subsequent picks.
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