Lacinato Kale (Brassica oleracea var. palmifolia)
1 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Site
- 5+ hours of sun, soil pH 6.5–7.5
- Biggest risk
- Brassica downy mildew
Lacinato kales (Brassica oleracea var. palmifolia) — biennial grown as an annual, or true biennial for winter harvesting.
This crop carries an unusually heavy problem load: 3 diseases, 5 pests and 0 nutrient issues are documented for it, so most of the effort in growing it well goes into prevention.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
Diseases
Pests
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6.5 - 7.5 |
| Sunlight | 5-5 hours direct sun |
| Soil texture | chalk, clay, loam or sand, firm and fertile (RHS) |
| Drainage | well-drained |
| Lifecycle | biennial grown as an annual, or true biennial for winter harvesting |
| Edible parts | leaves |
At a Glance
Soil & Growing Conditions
Water: moist but well-drained (RHS)
Soil pH range
Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.
Growth Stages
| Stage | BBCH | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sowing | 0 | Sow outdoors in fertile but firm soil that isn't too acidic, or start in modules/seedtrays indoors (RHS). |
| Transplanting | 3 | Transplant once seedlings have 5-6 leaves; may require staking in exposed locations given its tall, upright habit (RHS). |
| Leaf growth | 4 | Long, narrow, blistered black-green leaves develop through the season; full sun or partial shade, moist well-drained soil (RHS). |
| Winter harvest | 8 | Specifically bred for winter harvesting -- picked leaf by leaf through the cold months (RHS). |
Harvest & Storage
When to pick: Bred specifically for winter harvesting (RHS); pick individual long, blistered leaves as needed once plants are established, leaving the growing point to keep producing through the season.
Lacinato Kale, Bed to Border
References
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Also marketed as Cavolo nero; produces long, rolled-inwards, black-green leaves with high yield. Hardiness H7 (hardy in severest European continental climates, below -20C). Full sun or partial shade. Soil: chalk, clay, loam or sand; moist but well-drained; alkaline or neutral pH. Height and spread 0.5-1m. Time to maturity 1-2 years. Sow outdoors in fertile but firm soil that isn't too acidic, or start in modules/seedtrays indoors and transplant once seedlings have 5-6 leaves. Designed for winter harvesting; may require staking in exposed locations. PESTS: flea beetles affecting seedlings, butterfly caterpillars, pigeons (netting required), snails, cabbage root fly, mealy cabbage aphids that can spoil the harvest. DISEASES: susceptible to brassica downy mildew, white blister, and club root (which accumulates in soil where brassicas were previously grown).
1 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What soil pH do lacinato kales need?
A pH of about 6.5–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect lacinato kales?
Our data links 3 diseases and 5 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
This page gives you the thresholds; the planner turns them into your own calendar. It works from what you can observe and measure in your garden rather than from dates written for somebody else’s latitude.
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Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.