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SeedStepsYour vegetable garden, one step at a time.My gardenPlanting kale in summer gives you a garden you can still harvest from later. Small young leaves can reach the kitchen earlier; large winter plants offer a different rhythm. Choose a height, leaf colour and growing period that suit your bed and how you want to pick.
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
This growing advice helps you choose. Your variety, growth stage, weather and conditions in your space determine the actual timing.
Start under cover in cool conditions in modules or a seedbed · Kale
April–JuneStart under cover in cool, bright conditions to suit the desired harvest time.
Plan for young leaves or mature winter plants. Portuguese cabbage is not automatically as winter-hardy as kale.
RHS · bladkool ↗Britse teeltrichtlijn voor een gematigd klimaat; de genoemde perioden zijn richtlijnen voor Nederland en Vlaanderen.
Feggies · Boerenkool westlandse herfst – biologische groentezaden ↗Nederlandse producent of teeltbron; de rasinstructie blijft leidend.
Feggies · Boerenkool Westlandse herfst zaden organic ↗Nederlandse producent of teeltbron; de rasinstructie blijft leidend.
Guideline periods for the Netherlands and Flanders. Check the variety, available light, soil and measured temperatures. Greenhouse heating does not guarantee enough winter light.
Choose by more than the name. Discover how these varieties and crop types taste, what you can use them for and what growing them involves.
5 of 5 choices · 3 named varieties
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Westlandse Herfst is a curly kale selection for the cooler part of the season. Its firm leaves add volume to the winter bed.
Choose this variety for a recognisable curly autumn and winter harvest. The stated retail name is retained despite a different product handle.
In kale, cold conditions can make the perceived flavour milder. This is crop information, not an exclusive feature of this selection.
This flavour description applies to the crop; there is no separate tasting result for this variety.Cut thick veins separately and use finely sliced leaves in stamppot or a stir-fry. This lets you control texture.
Develop enough foliage in good time and plant with room around each stem. Keep the root zone moist during summer growth.
Pick healthy outer leaves and let the top continue growing. The potential for prolonged picking also depends on winter weather and plant condition.
Also listed as: Westlandse herfst.
Read the source notes →
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Grand vert du Nord is a tall, green, curly kale from northern France. The source describes a substantial plant with many curled leaves.
Choose this selection if you can accommodate its height and repeated leaf harvests. A narrow container with little root space is less suitable.
Traditional appreciation after cold is a kale characteristic. A distinct aroma ranking for this cultivar has not been established.
This flavour description applies to the crop; there is no separate tasting result for this variety.Use the leaves in stamppot or chop them finely as a base for a cooked vegetable dish. Thicker ribs can be prepared separately.
Give each plant sufficient spacing and consider shade on shorter neighbours. Raise young plants for the autumn season.
Harvest along the stem from bottom upwards and leave healthy top leaves. Check wind loading on tall plants too.
Read the source notes →
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Gulag Stars is a gene-pool selection with diverse leaf shapes and colours. Variation between plants is part of this offering.
Choose Gulag Stars if you find a variable leaf bed appealing. Do not expect a completely uniform cultivar with identical plants.
The source mentions soft texture and good flavour, but no detailed aroma. Plants within this population may differ.
This flavour description applies to the crop; there is no separate tasting result for this variety.Combine young leaves from different plants in a cooked dish. Select softer leaves when you want a fine texture.
Sow several plants and compare development in the same position. Record leaf colour and growth habit before choosing a preference.
Pick usable leaves from each plant rather than applying one shared size threshold. The population need not become harvest-ready evenly.
Read the source notes →
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Siber Frill has blue-green, strongly curled leaves. The firm leaf structure gives a distinctly different appearance from flat-leaved cabbage types.
Choose this variety for strongly curled leaves and described suitability for cold conditions. Winter hardiness still depends on position and weather.
Seed producer Redwood Seeds describes Siber Frill as mild and sweet. This is a cultivar description, without fixed sweetness at every harvest stage.
Use finely sliced leaves in a stir-fry or cook them gently in a stew. Adapt the cooking method to their firmness.
Let young plants root sufficiently before the cold season begins. During growth, provide space and an even supply of moisture.
Harvest firm, healthy leaves in portions and retain the growing tip. Younger leaves are practical for shorter cooking.
Read the source notes →
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Red kale adds leaf colour to a familiar winter crop. This assortment specifies a colour type, not a further named cultivar.
Choose this type mainly for colour variation. A named selection gives more control over specific growth traits.
No distinctive flavour caused by red leaves is confirmed. General kale character remains the appropriate description.
This flavour description applies to the crop; there is no separate tasting result for this variety.Cook the leaves as you would other kale. A red exterior does not guarantee that the colour will remain after cooking.
Allow for the slower development described and start propagation in good time. Give plants room to build up leaves before winter.
Pick by leaf quality and plant vigour. A colour name is no reason to harvest every plant on one calendar day.
Also listed as: Rode boerenkool.
Read the source notes →From a garden bed to a suitable pot or support: give your plant a place that suits your garden and the care you can provide.
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Established plants make the autumn bed useful.
For a vegetable garden with room in summer and winter.
Tick off your supplies →
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
A short crop can provide small, fresh leaves.
For small portions and limited space.
Tick off your supplies →See the confirmed differences. Characteristics without supporting evidence are left blank.
7 of 7 varieties
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Explore this variety and use the growing guide to choose a place for your plant.
View variety →
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Explore this variety and use the growing guide to choose a place for your plant.
View variety →
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Explore this variety and use the growing guide to choose a place for your plant.
View variety →
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Explore this variety and use the growing guide to choose a place for your plant.
View variety →Choose two to four varieties to compare their source data side by side.
Westlandse Herfst: Westlandse Herfst is a curled kale selection for the cooler part of the season. Its firm leaves add volume to the winter bed. Cut thick veins separately and use finely sliced leaves in stamppot or a stir-fry. This lets you control texture.
In kale, cold conditions can make the perceived flavour milder. This is crop information, not an exclusive feature of this selection.
Grand vert du Nord: Tall green curly kale from northern France. The source describes substantial plants with abundant curly leaves. Use in mashed potato or finely sliced as a cooked vegetable base. Process thicker veins separately if desired.
Traditional appreciation after cold is a kale characteristic. A distinct aroma ranking for this cultivar has not been established.
Gulag Stars: A gene-pool selection with varied leaf shapes and colours. Variation between plants is part of the offering. Combine young leaves from different plants in a cooked dish. Select softer leaves when you want a fine texture.
The source mentions soft texture and good flavour, but no detailed aroma. Plants within this population may differ.
Siber Frill: Siber Frill has blue-green, strongly curled leaves. The firm leaf structure gives a distinctly different appearance from flat-leaved cabbage types. Use finely sliced leaves in a stir-fry or cook them gently in a stew. Adapt the cooking method to their firmness.
Seed producer Redwood Seeds describes Siber Frill as mild and sweet. This is a cultivar description, without fixed sweetness at every harvest stage.
Kale has a long place in European and Asian vegetable gardens; RHS describes this at species level. Your bed restarts the story with practical leaf choices. Green and purple varieties differ visually, while compact plants need different layouts from tall forms.
Baby leaves and winter plants share species but differ in aims. Follow young dense-sowing guidance for baby leaves. Plants staying months need growing room. Label harvest aims so later spacing and calendar choices make sense.
Modules can preserve intact roots at transplanting. Acclimatise indoor plants gradually. Judge actual sturdy growth and suitable root balls, not dates alone. Water young plants to ensure good root-soil contact.
Use variety guidance for final sites. De Bolster's Westlandse Winter spacing differs from general cabbage advice, for example. Keep paths recognisable. You need lower-leaf access and views underneath without repeatedly working through other plants.
Kale likes draining soil with organic matter. Check beneath surfaces in drought. American guidance links water stress and heat to sharper leaves. Use this to monitor conditions; taste changes alone do not identify the local cause.
The British growing guide describes insect mesh on a supporting structure and protection from birds. Check the cover seals well and still leaves enough space above plants. Remove yellowing lower leaves where needed. If you see feeding or other damage, inspect leaves carefully before assuming one cause and choosing a measure.
For individual leaf harvesting, start outside with usable leaves and let others grow on. Observe plant development during every round. This approach gives you something different from one end date for the whole bed. Baby leaves also have their own harvesting approach; follow the chosen cultivar and growing aim.
The Dutch school gardening handbook describes winter harvesting of mature kale from November to March. This guides planning rather than guaranteeing every plant remains harvestable in every winter. Cold can halt growth. Note usable leaves, weather and subsequent plant response; this creates your own story for the next kale bed.
For a winter plant, start within the cultivar’s sowing or planting window and give the crop time to grow large before the cold months. Baby leaves occupy the space for less time. Plan room after an early harvest, but do not wait until late autumn and still expect a substantial winter plant.
Caterpillars, eggs and damage often lie beneath leaves. Under mesh, check closures and trapped pests regularly. For wilting in wet soil, inspect roots; more water does not automatically help. Remove diseased material carefully.
Tick what you already have. The extras depend on how you grow.
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SeedSteps editorial team · updated on 11 October 2026. The AI images illustrate species and practical growing situations; they do not prove an exact cultivar, observations from your own garden or yield.
Britse gewasadviezen worden gecombineerd met Nederlandse en Vlaamse informatie waar beschikbaar. Amerikaanse Extension-bronnen ondersteunen plantprincipes en herkenning; hun kalenderdata, lokale plaagdruk, bestrijdingsmiddelen en mestdoseringen worden niet rechtstreeks op Nederland of Vlaanderen toegepast. Vorst, bodemwarmte, standplaats en expliciete rasinformatie blijven de lokale controle. Commerciële bronnen onderbouwen uitsluitend benoemde ras- en plantkenmerken; zij zijn geen affiliate-aanbeveling.
Supporting evidence by chapter: Choose by flavour, shape and use: Feggies, Feggies, Feggies, Feggies, Association Kokopelli, Feggies, Redwood Seeds. An old leafy vegetable with many faces: Royal Horticultural Society, Royal Horticultural Society. First choose between baby leaves and a mature plant: De Bolster, Royal Horticultural Society. Match the start to the final position: Royal Horticultural Society. A small plant already calls for a big decision: De Bolster, Royal Horticultural Society. The root zone still matters beneath full foliage: University of Minnesota Extension. Include protection in your garden round: Royal Horticultural Society, University of Minnesota Extension. Harvest leaves and leave room for what follows: University of Minnesota Extension, University of Maryland Extension. A winter bed needs continued observation: Handboek Schooltuinen, via Velt, University of Minnesota Extension. Match sowing to the harvest aim: Royal Horticultural Society, University of Minnesota Extension, De Bolster.