Lacinato Dinosaur Kale is a striking brassica that earns its dramatic common name from its deeply textured, almost prehistoric-looking leaves. This frost-hardy cultivar grows 24 to 48 inches tall and reaches harvest in just 21 to 62 days, making it one of the faster kales you can grow. It thrives in full sun with moderate water and prefers slightly alkaline soil between 6.5 and 7.5 pH. Space plants 24 inches apart for optimal airflow and leaf development.
Full Sun
Moderate
?-?
48in H x 14in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The leaves of Lacinato Dinosaur Kale are unmistakable: deeply wrinkled and elongated, they look like something from a botanical illustration of ancient times. Despite their textured appearance, they're tender enough for salads and hold up beautifully to cooking. Its cold tolerance means you can harvest well into fall and early spring, extending your growing season far beyond summer crops. The relatively quick 21 to 62 day timeline to harvest means you'll be picking leaves faster than you might expect from such an ornamental-looking plant.
Lacinato Dinosaur Kale is grown for its edible leaves, which can be harvested fresh for salads, sautéed as a cooked green, or incorporated into soups and smoothies. The distinctive texture of the leaves makes them visually striking in any kitchen garden, adding both culinary and ornamental value.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date. For a fall crop, start seeds 12 to 14 weeks before your average first fall frost date, then transplant after 4 to 6 weeks of growth. Maintain a soil temperature of 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal germination.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after they've developed true leaves and hardened off. Timing should coincide with your transplanting window: 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date for spring plantings, or after 4 to 6 weeks of indoor growth for fall crops. Space transplants 24 inches apart in both directions.
Direct sow seeds outdoors 1 to 2 weeks before your average last frost date when soil temperature is above 45 degrees Fahrenheit for a spring or summer crop. For a fall crop in most climates, sow 10 to 12 weeks before your average first fall frost date. In mild climates, you can sow in fall for a very early spring crop.
Begin harvesting Lacinato Dinosaur Kale once leaves have reached a usable size; the plant will continue producing new leaves throughout the season. Harvest by removing outer leaves first, allowing the center to continue growing, or cut the entire head if preferred. This variety is particularly cold-tolerant, so you can continue harvesting through light frosts in fall.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.