How to Grow Winterbor Kale
Brassica oleracea
Winterbor Kale is a hardy brassica valued for its exceptional cold tolerance and resistance to bolting. Gardeners prize this variety for providing fresh leaves throughout late fall and winter when other crops have faded.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Winterbor Kale: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
If starting indoors, move sturdy seedlings outdoors once they are large enough to handle, ideally during the 2-6 week window before your last frost date.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. As a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors or start indoors 2 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost. Press seeds into the soil at a depth of about one-quarter inch. Germination typically occurs within 7 to 14 days.
Space plants 12 to 15 inches apart in rows that are also 12 to 15 inches wide. Provide one inch of water per week, though established plants tolerate some dryness. Apply a layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feed lightly if growth seems slow or soil is poor.
Watch for cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles; use row covers or hand-pick pests early. Prevent black rot, clubroot, and downy mildew by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest leaves when the plant reaches maturity in about 60 days after sowing.
When to Plant Winterbor 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 Winterbor Kale
✓ Good companions
Deep roots don't compete, help break up soil for kale roots
Attracts beneficial wasps that parasitize cabbage worms
Repels cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles
Shallow roots complement kale, provides living mulch
Repel cabbage moths and other brassica pests with strong scent
Trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, deters cabbage worms
Deter cabbage loopers and aphids, help mask kale scent from pests
Compatible growth habits, efficient use of garden space
✗ Keep away from
Can shade kale and compete for nutrients during peak growth
Different soil pH preferences and may harbor similar pests
Heavy feeders that compete for nutrients, may stunt kale growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
