Curly Kale
KX-1 is a striking red kale bred for baby leaf production, ready to harvest in just 29 days from transplants. This open-pollinated cultivar grows in a compact bush form, making it ideal for succession planting and tight garden spaces. The uniform, deeply colored foliage is both visually arresting and tender enough for fresh harvests at the microgreen or baby-leaf stage, when eating quality is at its peak. Unlike full-sized kales that demand months of patience, KX-1 rewards quick turnarounds, perfect for gardeners seeking vibrant greens in spring through fall.
—
Moderate
?-?
?in H x ?in W
Perennial
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
KX-1 stands out for its speed and visual drama, a red kale that delivers restaurant-quality baby leaves in under a month from transplant. Its compact bush habit means you can tuck it into smaller beds or containers without the sprawling character of traditional kale varieties. The leaves improve in flavor and tenderness with cool weather and even light frost, rewarding late-season growers. Its open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seed from the best plants, building a strain perfectly adapted to your garden.
KX-1 excels as a baby leaf green, harvested young and tender for fresh salads, smoothies, and garnishes where its striking red color adds visual punch. The young leaves can be clipped individually once the plant reaches about 2 months of age, allowing successive harvests from a single plant throughout the season. Its quick turnaround makes it ideal for market growers and home gardeners doing succession plantings for continuous supply.
Sow 2 seeds per cell in 50- to 72-cell plug flats, or 3 to 4 seeds per inch in 20-row flats, planting ¼ inch deep. Keep soil temperature above 75°F (24°C) until germination, then reduce air temperature to about 60°F (16°C). Seedlings will be ready to transplant in 4 to 6 weeks.
Transplant seedlings outdoors 12 to 18 inches apart in rows spaced 18 to 36 inches apart. For early spring crops, use warm-season production methods. Late-summer plantings are excellent for fall and winter harvests and can be extended in cold frames, hoophouses, or even outdoors in mild regions.
Beginning about 2 months after transplanting, harvest by clipping individual leaves rather than removing the whole plant. This technique allows the plant to continue producing fresh growth for successive harvests. Kale's exceptional hardiness means eating quality improves into late fall with light frost. Row covers extend the harvest window considerably, allowing you to pick tender, sweet leaves well into winter depending on your region.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.