Kale sown in late summer has plenty of time to establish a strong root system before the colder months arrive, and unlike many other vegetables, it continues producing usable leaves well into the darker, cooler part of the year. This makes it a particularly rewarding crop for anyone wanting fresh greens from the vegetable garden long after most summer crops have finished for the season.
Preparing the bed and sowing
Choose a spot that received well-rotted compost earlier in the season if possible, since kale grows best in soil with plenty of organic matter already worked in. A light raking to break up any large clumps and remove stones creates a fine, even surface that makes sowing and later thinning considerably easier. Shallow drills, spaced with enough room between them for the plants to spread as they mature, work well for a steady, manageable crop.
Water gently but thoroughly after sowing, and keep the bed consistently moist while the seeds germinate, since uneven watering at this early stage is one of the most common reasons for patchy, disappointing growth. Once seedlings appear and develop their first proper leaves, thinning them out gives each remaining plant enough space to develop into a sturdy, productive specimen rather than a crowded, leggy one.
As the plants grow through early autumn, keep an eye out for any damaged or yellowing leaves near the base, removing them promptly to keep the plant tidy and to reduce the chance of problems spreading among the leaves. Regularly picking a few outer leaves, rather than waiting to harvest everything at once, encourages the plant to keep producing steadily over a longer period.
With a timely sowing in late summer, kale rewards fairly modest effort with a long, reliable harvest that continues well beyond when most other vegetables have finished for the year. It remains one of the most dependable crops for extending the productive season in the vegetable garden.
