Grow your own curly garden treasure!
This compact kale is a cold-loving champ with frilly blue-green leaves that look like they’ve been kissed by frost. Vates Blue Curled Dwarf is a joy to grow and even more fun to harvest, especially when the chill sweetens its flavor.
Variety: Vates Blue Curled Dwarf Kale (Brassica oleracea)
Growth Habit: Cool-season biennial (grown as annual)
Height: 12–18 inches
Flavor Profile: Mild, sweet, and crisp, especially after a frost
Color: Blue-green, tightly curled leaves
Planting Conditions: Direct sow or transplant in full sun
Harvest Timeline: Ready in 55–65 days
Uses: Great for kale chips, soups, salads, and smoothies
Benefits: Cold-hardy and compact, ideal for small spaces
Fun Fact: Developed in Virginia, this kale thrives in frosty weather and keeps producing when others give up!
If you’ve got a chilly garden or a cozy container on the porch, this kale is your leafy best friend. Its curly leaves aren’t just pretty, they’re perfect for tossing into a hot soup or crisping into kale chips. Imagine stepping outside on a brisk morning and snipping a handful of fresh, sweet greens for breakfast, now that’s garden magic.
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🌞 Choose a Sunny Spot: Kale loves full sun and rich, well-drained soil.
🌱 Sow the Seeds: Plant ¼ inch deep, spacing 8–12 inches apart.
💧 Water Consistently: Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during dry spells.
🌿 Thin and Maintain: Once seedlings sprout, thin to 12 inches apart for happy, healthy plants.
✂️ Harvest: Snip outer leaves as needed or harvest the whole plant when mature. Frost? Even better, it sweetens the flavor!