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Kamome Series Flowering Kale is a frost-hardy hybrid that transforms the typical kale plant into something unexpectedly ornamental. Growing to a compact 11-12 inches tall, this acephala (headless) variety produces vibrant ruffled rosettes in pink, red, or white rather than the dense heads you'd find at the grocery store. Ready to harvest in 90-99 days, it thrives across hardiness zones 3-11 and performs best in full sun, making it equally at home in vegetable gardens and decorative borders.
Full Sun
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3-11
12in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The Kamome Series distinguishes itself through its showy, flowery mound of ruffled foliage that reads as ornament as much as vegetable. Unlike standard kales bred purely for edible yield, this hybrid was developed to celebrate the plant's natural blooming structure, with frilly edges in striking colors that brighten cool-season gardens. Its compact dwarf habit means it demands just 24 inches of row spacing, fitting neatly into small-space gardens and containers where larger kales would overwhelm the design.
Kamome Series kale is grown primarily for fresh harvest, with leaves used raw in salads or lightly cooked in sautés and grain bowls. The tender, ruffled leaves are less fibrous than many standard kale varieties, making them enjoyable eaten fresh without extensive massage or cooking. Beyond the kitchen, many gardeners value these plants as cool-season ornamentals, using them in landscape beds where their pink, red, or white frilled edges provide color contrast when traditional flowers have faded.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix, keep soil consistently moist (not waterlogged), and maintain temperatures between 60-70°F for germination. Seedlings typically emerge in 7-10 days. Once true leaves develop, provide bright light and keep temperatures cool to prevent leggy growth.
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions, then transplant outdoors when soil is workable in spring or early summer. Space plants 24 inches apart. For fall gardens in warmer zones, direct sow seeds in mid to late summer for harvest as temperatures cool. Kamome Series tolerates light frost well and can be transplanted even after frost has occurred.
Direct sow seeds 1/4 inch deep directly into garden soil in early spring or mid to late summer for fall harvest. Keep soil consistently moist until seedlings are established. Thin or transplant seedlings to 24 inches apart once they develop true leaves.
Begin harvesting outer leaves when plants reach 8-12 inches tall, typically 90-99 days after sowing. Pinch or cut individual leaves from the base of the plant, working from the outside inward, which encourages the rosette to continue producing new growth from the center. Harvest in the morning after frost if possible for maximum crispness and sweetness. Plants remain productive through multiple harvests as long as the growing center is left intact. In cold climates, this frost-hardy variety continues producing well into winter.
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“The Kamome Series represents a deliberate shift in kale breeding philosophy, moving away from the uniform, headless kale varieties bred solely for commercial production. These hybrid seeds were developed to emphasize the ornamental potential of Brassica oleracea var. acephala, creating plants that blur the line between edible crops and decorative plantings. The series gained traction among gardeners seeking non-GMO, cold-hardy options that offer both visual interest and harvested abundance in temperate regions.”