Starbor is an F1 hybrid kale bred for speed and tenderness, reaching full maturity in just 50 days from transplants. This compact, frost-hardy variety thrives in cool weather and produces tender, flavorful leaves that improve noticeably after light frosts, making it exceptional for fall and winter harvests. With its quick turnaround and ability to handle cold down to 20°F, Starbor fills the gap between spring and deep-winter harvests that slower varieties can't quite reach.
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Starbor delivers harvests in 50 days from transplants, which is remarkable speed for a kale variety. The compact growth habit and tight 4-inch spacing requirements make it efficient for small gardens and container growing. Its frost-hardy nature means flavor actually sharpens and sweetens after light frosts, a trait that makes late-season crops genuinely superior to summer harvests.
Starbor's quick maturity and tender leaves make it ideal for fresh harvesting throughout the season. Use it for fresh salads, sautés, smoothies, and any preparation where you want young, delicate kale rather than tougher mature leaves. Its ability to hold quality into late fall through cold weather makes it particularly valuable for extending the kale season when other greens fade.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow 2 seeds per cell in 50- to 72-cell plug flats, or 3 to 4 seeds per inch in 20-row flats, at 1/4 inch depth. Keep soil temperature above 75°F until germination, then reduce air temperature to about 60°F. Seedlings should be ready to transplant in 4 to 6 weeks.
Transplant outdoors 12 to 18 inches apart in rows 18 to 36 inches apart. Starbor reaches harvest maturity in 50 days from transplants, making it excellent for succession planting every 2 to 3 weeks for continuous harvests.
Begin harvesting about 2 months after planting by clipping individual leaves from the bottom of the plant upward, removing leaves at any size you prefer. For continuous harvests, never remove more than one-third of the leaves at a time, and always leave the terminal bud (the top center growing point) intact to keep the plant productive. Starbor's eating quality improves noticeably after light frosts, so don't rush early-season harvests if you can wait for fall and winter crops. The plant will continue producing until temperatures drop to approximately 20°F. Row covers will extend the season further in cold regions.
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