Kale
Best varieties: Lacinato (Dinosaur), Red Russian, Winterbor, Dwarf Blue Curled
Easy
Vegetable
❄️ Frost Hardy
🐾 Pet Safe
🌲 PNW Growing Notes
A PNW superstar. Can grow nearly year-round in Seattle. Sweeter after frost. Start in spring or late summer for fall/winter harvest.
☀️ Light
Full sun to part shade
💧 Water
1 inch/week
🪨 Soil
Rich, well-drained, pH 6.0–7.0
📏 Spacing
18" apart
📅 Planting Timeline (Seattle)
🏠
Start Indoors
Feb–Mar (spring crop)
🌱
Direct Sow
Mar–Aug
🪴
Transplant Outdoors
Mar–Apr or Jul–Aug
🧺
Harvest
Year-round (with protection)
💡 Pro Tip
Lacinato kale is the Seattle gardener's best friend—harvest outer leaves and it keeps producing for months.
🤝 Companion Planting
✅ Good Companions
Beets, Celery, Onions, Potatoes
❌ Keep Away From
Strawberries