Premier Kale

Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost for a summer harvest, or 8 to 10 weeks before your first fall frost for an autumn crop. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix, keep the soil at 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and expect germination in 7 to 14 days. Keep seedlings under bright light once sprouted to prevent legginess.

Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant when soil temperature reaches at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit and plants have 3 to 4 true leaves. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows spaced 24 inches apart. Plant slightly deeper than their cell depth to encourage a stronger root system.

Direct sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in the garden bed once soil is workable in spring or 10 to 12 weeks before your first fall frost. Sow seeds every 2 inches along the row, then thin seedlings to 24-inch spacing once they develop true leaves.

Begin harvesting outer leaves once plants reach 8 to 12 inches tall, typically 30 to 60 days after planting depending on conditions and whether you started from seed or transplant. Pinch or cut leaves from the bottom of the plant upward, leaving the growing crown intact so the plant continues producing new foliage. Harvest in the morning after frost has passed for the sweetest, most tender leaves. Kale tolerates repeated harvesting and will keep producing through cool weather, so you can pick continuously rather than waiting for a single bulk harvest.