How to grow Kale in Australia
Kale is a tough, leafy member of the cabbage family that crops for months from a single sowing, with the leaves picked a few at a time from the bottom up. It grows best in the cool months, when cabbage white caterpillars are fewer, and a touch of frost sweetens the leaves. Tuscan, curly and Red Russian types all grow the same way.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Kale in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | February to August | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | February to August | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | February to August | Extended cool-season window; robust through Sydney winter; can plant June to July. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to September | Extend window: sow Mar to Jul (seed trays), transplant Apr to Aug. Frost-hardy; thrive in Melbourne winter. |
| Adelaide & SA | March to September | Mediterranean: avoid sowing Nov to Feb. Kale bolts in summer. Peak growing Mar to Sept. |
| Perth & WA | February to September | Trays from mid Feb in bright shade, plant out Mar to May, harvest through winter. Direct sow Mar to Sep. |
| Tasmania | September to February | Sow Sep to Feb. Dec to Feb sowings give the main autumn-winter crop. Frost sweetens the leaves. Superb in Tasmania. |
| Canberra & ACT | August to October, January to March | Sow Jan to Mar for winter kale; frost sweetens the leaves. Sow Aug to Oct for a spring crop. |
| North Queensland | May to August | Dry season only. Cool-season brassica; needs shade cloth even May to Aug in tropical heat. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to August | Dry season only. Cool-season brassica; needs shade cloth even May to Aug in tropical heat. |
Where to plant
Grow kale in full sun in firm, fertile, free-draining soil enriched with compost and well-rotted manure. Like other brassicas it is a hungry plant. Lime acidic soil before planting, which also helps guard against clubroot.
Rotate brassicas: do not grow kale where cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower or other brassicas grew in the last few years. Kale is at its best in the cool months; in summer heat it turns tough and bitter, bolts, and is stripped by caterpillars.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from February to August.
- Sydney: sow from February to August. It grows robustly through the Sydney winter.
- Melbourne and Adelaide: sow from March to September. Avoid sowing in summer, when kale bolts.
- Perth: sow in trays from mid February in bright shade and plant out from March to May, or sow direct from March to September, for harvests through winter.
- Canberra: sow from January to March for winter kale, or from August to October for a spring crop. Frost sweetens the leaves.
- Hobart: sow from September to February. December to February sowings give the main autumn and winter crop.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow in the dry season only, May to August, and use shade cloth even then.
How to plant
- Raise seedlings in punnets of quality seed raising mix. Gardening Australia's Tino finds kale more reliable from punnets than sown straight into the bed. Sprinkle seed thinly and cover lightly; it usually comes up in about five days in moist mix.
- Thin seedlings and eat the extras in salads.
- Plant out when seedlings are a good size, about six to eight weeks after sowing.
- Space plants about 40 to 45 cm apart, firm the soil around them and water in well.
- Cover the bed with insect mesh straight away to keep cabbage white butterflies and moths off.
Watering and feeding
Water consistently so the leaves stay tender. Dry spells make kale tough and bitter and encourage bolting. Mulch to keep the soil moist and cool.
Feed regularly. Dig in compost and manure before planting, add pelletised chicken manure after planting, and give a liquid feed such as fish emulsion every fortnight while plants grow. Kale is grown for its leaves, so a fertiliser with plenty of nitrogen suits it.
Pruning and care through the year
- Remove yellowing older leaves and any touching the ground, which gives pests less cover.
- Check under the leaves every few days and squash caterpillars and eggs.
- Stake tall plants in windy spots as they grow taller through the season.
- Cut off flower stems if the plant starts to bolt in spring, to keep it producing leaves for a little longer.
Harvesting
Start picking once plants have about ten good leaves, usually 8 to 10 weeks after planting. Take the lower, outer leaves a few at a time, snapping them down and off the stem, and leave the top rosette to keep growing. One plant keeps producing for months through the cool season.
Kale keeps for about a week in a bag in the fridge. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads; older leaves are better cooked.
Growing in pots
Kale grows well in a pot at least 30 cm wide and deep with quality potting mix. Water regularly, feed every couple of weeks with a liquid fertiliser, and cover with insect mesh. Dwarf curly types suit pots best.
Using it
Strip the leaves from the tough central rib. Use young leaves raw in salads, and cook older ones briefly with garlic and butter or oil, add them to soups and stews, or bake them into kale chips.
Varieties
- Tuscan (Cavolo Nero)
- Red Russian
- Curly Kale (Dwarf Blue Scotch)
Companion planting
Kale grows alongside other cool-season vegetables. Aromatic plants and flowers nearby can help by bringing in predators of caterpillars and aphids.
Good companions
- Dill Its flowers draw hoverflies and parasitic wasps, which attack aphids and caterpillars.
- Nasturtium Often used as a trap plant that draws cabbage white butterflies and aphids away from brassicas, though results vary.
- Beetroot A cool-season root crop that shares the bed without competing for space above ground.
- Onion A low, upright crop grown in the same season that fits between kale plants.
- Celery Grows in the same cool season and likes the same rich, moist soil.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to kale.
- Strawberry Strawberries and brassicas are traditionally kept apart. The evidence is thin, but they need different rotations and beds.
- Tomato A summer crop with different needs, usually kept in a separate bed and rotation from brassicas.
Pests and diseases
Caterpillars are the main kale pest, worst in warm weather. Aphids build up in spring.
Pests to watch for
- Cabbage moth Holes in the leaves and green caterpillars underneath. Squash them by hand, cover with insect mesh, or use a Bt spray.
- Aphids Dense grey colonies under the leaves and on the growing tip, which curl. Hose them off or spray with white oil.
Diseases to watch for
- Downy mildew Yellow patches on the upper side of leaves with grey, fuzzy growth beneath, in cool, damp weather. Space plants and water the soil, not the leaves.
- Clubroot Plants wilt on warm days and stay stunted; roots are swollen and distorted. Worst in acidic soil. Rotate brassicas and lime the soil.
Common questions
How do you harvest kale so it keeps growing?
Pick the lower, outer leaves a few at a time, snapping them down and off the stem, and leave the top rosette to keep growing. One plant produces for months.
When should I plant kale in Australia?
In late summer, autumn and winter in most regions: from February in south east Queensland, Sydney and Perth, and from March in Melbourne and Adelaide. Canberra sows in late summer or spring, Hobart from spring to late summer, and the tropics in the dry season.
How do I stop caterpillars eating my kale?
Cover the plants with fine insect mesh from planting, check under the leaves every few days and squash eggs and caterpillars, or use a Bt spray. Growing kale in the cool months also means fewer caterpillars.
Why has my kale gone to seed?
Kale flowers in spring as the days lengthen, and heat or dry soil speeds it up. Cut off flower stems to get a few more weeks of leaves, then replace the plant.
Why is my kale bitter?
Heat and dry soil make kale tough and bitter. Grow it in the cool months and keep it well watered. Cold weather and light frost make the leaves sweeter.
Can I grow kale in a pot?
Yes. Use a pot at least 30 cm wide and deep with quality potting mix, water regularly, feed every couple of weeks and cover it with insect mesh.
Why won't my kale seeds come up?
Kale can be unreliable sown straight into the bed. Raise it in punnets of fine seed raising mix kept moist, and plant out after six to eight weeks.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Growing kale (Tino Carnevale); Gardening Australia: Growing kale (Peter Cundall); Gardening Australia: Bugs off brassicas.