Vates Blue Scotch Curled Kale Seeds

Start Blue Scotch Kale seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last spring frost or 6–8 weeks before the first fall frost. You can also direct sow outdoors when the weather is cool, placing seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and sowing 3–4 Scotch Kale seeds per spot. Germination usually takes 3–10 days. Thin early, because crowded kale holds moisture and loses airflow fast. Leave the strongest plant and finish spacing at 12–18 inches, with about 24 inches between rows.

Curled Scotch Kale grows best in full sun or partial shade, especially where spring stays cool or fall stretches long. Use rich, nitrogen-friendly, loamy, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–7.5. Keep moisture steady at the root zone, but do not overwater. Wet, stressed roots slow growth, while swings from dry to soaked can toughen the leaves and make the plant stall when it should grow.

Feed Blue Scotch Curled Kale plants about every 4 weeks to keep fresh leaf growth coming. Harvest the outer leaves first once plants reach usable size — around 60 days from sowing — and leave the center bud alone so it keeps pushing new growth. In cool weather, flavor improves after frost, and this heirloom can even handle several inches of snow. Watch summer heat, though — when temperatures stay too warm, kale can turn bitter and start bolting.