Kale Vates Blue Curled - 20 Seeds

Blue Vates Curled Kale is a classic American heirloom variety known for its compact size, ruffled blue-green leaves, and cold hardiness. It’s a favourite for both market gardeners and home growers because of its high yield, excellent flavour, and beautiful texture.

Plant type Hardy biennial (grown as an annual)

Height 30–45 cm

Spread 40–60 cm

Leaves Finely curled, deeply ruffled, and a beautiful blue-green to slate-grey colour

Texture Tender when young, slightly firmer when mature—holds shape well in cooking

Flavour Mild, slightly sweet, with flavour improving after frost

Growth habit Compact, low-growing, and densely leafed

Cold tolerance Excellent – ideal for winter and early spring harvests

This variety is perfect for harvesting as baby greens or mature leaves, and is often used in soups, stir-fries, smoothies, and salads.

Growing Conditions

Light Full sun to part shade (tolerates light shade in hot climates)

Soil Rich, moist, well-drained soil enriched with compost or well-rotted manure

pH Neutral to slightly alkaline (6.0–7.5)

Watering Keep soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells

Feeding Apply a balanced organic fertilizer or compost at planting, and side-dress midseason if needed

Sowing Instructions

Direct Sowing (recommended for late spring and autumn crops)

When

Spring 2–4 weeks before last frost

Autumn Late summer, 8–10 weeks before first frost

Seed depth 0.5–1 cm

Spacing

Thin seedlings to 30–40 cm apart

Rows 40–50 cm apart

Starting Indoors

When 4–6 weeks before last frost

Transplant When seedlings have 4–5 true leaves and are about 10–15 cm tall

Hardening off 5–7 days before moving outdoors

Germination details

Temp 15–24°C

Time 5–10 days

For continuous harvest, sow every 3–4 weeks during the season.

Common Pests & Problems

Pests

Cabbage white caterpillars Chew large holes – use insect mesh or hand-pick

Aphids Often found on leaf undersides – use neem oil or insecticidal soap

Flea beetles Tiny holes in leaves – use row covers or sticky traps

Slugs & snails Chew holes, especially on seedlings – use traps or barriers

Cutworms May sever young seedlings – use collars or mulch around stems

Diseases

Downy mildew Yellow patches with fuzzy underside – improve air circulation

Black rot Yellowing and black veins – remove affected plants and rotate crops

Clubroot Causes root swelling and stunting – avoid planting in infected soil, lime soil if acidic

Alternaria leaf spot Small dark lesions – space plants well and rotate crops annually