How to Grow Black Magic Kale
Brassica oleracea
Black Magic Kale is a beloved heirloom brassica prized for its deep purple leaves and tender texture. Gardeners grow this cool-season crop to enjoy fresh harvests in spring or fall gardens where it thrives under light frost.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Black Magic Kale: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
While direct sowing is ideal, you can start seeds indoors four weeks before the last frost and transplant seedlings once they have developed a few true leaves.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 before sowing seeds directly outdoors. Sow them two to six weeks before your last expected spring frost date. Press the small seeds gently into the soil surface; do not cover them deeply as they need light to germinate. Expect sprouts to appear within five to ten days under cool conditions.
Space plants twelve to eighteen inches apart in rows to ensure good air circulation and prevent disease spread. Provide one inch of water per week, keeping the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feed lightly with balanced fertilizer if leaves appear pale or growth slows significantly.
Watch for cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, and loopers; use row covers early to deter pests before they damage foliage. Prevent clubroot, black leg, white rust, and downy mildew by rotating crops annually and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest outer leaves when the plant reaches maturity after sixty-five days from sowing for continuous picking throughout the season.
When to Plant Black Magic Kale
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | April – May | June – July | August – September |
| Zone 2 | April – May | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | January | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Black Magic Kale
✓ Good companions
Different root depths prevent competition, carrots loosen soil for kale
Attracts beneficial wasps that parasitize cabbage worms and aphids
Deters aphids, cabbage loopers, and flea beetles with sulfur compounds
Grows well in kale's partial shade, efficient use of garden space
Repel nematodes and various pests, may reduce whitefly populations
Trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, deters cabbage worms
Repels cabbage maggots, aphids, and other brassica pests with strong scent
Repels cabbage worms and flea beetles, attracts beneficial insects
✗ Keep away from
May shade kale excessively and compete for nitrogen in soil
Kale can inhibit strawberry growth and fruit production
Compete for similar nutrients, may stunt kale growth and reduce yields
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
