How to Grow Dwarf Blue Curled Kale
Brassica oleracea var. acephala 'Dwarf Blue Curled'
Dwarf Blue Curled Kale is a hardy brassica prized for its deep blue-green leaves and compact growth habit. Gardeners grow this easy-care variety to add vibrant color and nutritional value to salads or cooked dishes throughout the cool growing season.
📷 Wikipedia: Brassica oleraceaStarting Dwarf Blue Curled Kale: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Dwarf Blue Curled Kale is not usually started indoors.
Sow seeds directly in the garden rather than starting indoors, placing them out 2 to 6 weeks before the last frost date.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Sow seeds directly outdoors 2 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost date, as this cool-season crop tolerates light chilling. Press seeds into the soil surface or cover them lightly at a depth of about 1/4 inch. Germination typically occurs within 5 to 10 days under these conditions.
Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart to ensure good air circulation and healthy head formation. While this variety does not require trellising, keep the soil consistently moist with about one inch of water per week. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, feeding lightly if growth slows.
Monitor for cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, and loopers; use row covers or hand-pick pests early. Prevent clubroot, black rot, and downy mildew by ensuring good drainage and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest outer leaves as needed starting at 55 to 75 days after sowing when heads are firm.
When to Plant Dwarf Blue Curled 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 Dwarf Blue Curled Kale
✓ Good companions
Deep taproot breaks up soil for shallow kale roots, different nutrient needs
Improves flavor of brassicas and attracts beneficial insects
Attracts beneficial wasps that parasitize cabbage worms and aphids
Natural fungicide properties, repels cabbage loopers and root maggots
Makes efficient use of space as ground cover, doesn't compete for nutrients
Repels cabbage moths, aphids, and other brassica pests with strong scent
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cabbage worms, repels cucumber beetles
Repels cabbage root maggots, aphids, and flea beetles with sulfur compounds
✗ Keep away from
Can shade dwarf kale and compete for nitrogen despite bean's fixing ability
Kale can inhibit strawberry growth and both attract similar pests
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt kale growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
