Lacinato Kale

Cool-weather gardens come alive with Lacinato Kale’s dark, ocean-deep leaves—narrow, upright, and richly textured like pressed velvet.

Its flavor is sweet and savory with a gentle mineral edge, and the leaves hold a satisfying, tender-crisp bite that stays elegant through the season. Grow it for abundant harvests of striking greens for fresh salads, hearty sautés, and robust soups, or for pickling to capture its deep, earthy character.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Lacinato’s pressed-velvet texture makes it feel luxurious even when eaten raw, and its mineral sweetness stands up to sharp acid without turning flat. For cooking, it stays tender-crisp in the pan and in soup, so you get greens that don’t collapse into laundry.

Best Uses

massaged raw salad leaves under a lemony vinaigrette
hot quick sauté where the stems stay pleasantly snappy
sturdy soup pot greens—wilt without going mushy
quick pickle for earthy, tangy crunch

Flavor Profile

sweet-savory kale bite gentle mineral edge tender-crisp, velvety leaves deep earthy undertone

Kitchen Pairings

lemon white wine vinegar olive oil parmesan butter chickpeas

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease pest issue on Lacinato kale, and how can I stop it from spreading?

Watch for cabbage worms (imported cabbageworm/diamondback moth larvae) and aphids, which commonly damage kale leaves by chewing and sucking. Hand-pick early caterpillars, then spray kale with a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) product targeted for caterpillars; for aphids, rinse with a strong water jet and repeat every 2–3 days for a week. Keep leaves off wet soil by watering at the base and remove any heavily damaged leaves to reduce buildup.

How often should I water Lacinato kale during the main growing phase?

During active leaf growth, keep the root zone evenly moist with about 1–2 inches of water per week, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Water deeply whenever the top 1 inch of soil feels dry, aiming to wet the soil rather than the leaves—kale under consistently wet foliage is more prone to leaf spotting. In hot spells, you may need to water 1–2 times per week to prevent leaf bitterness from stress.

How do I tell when Lacinato kale is ready to harvest?

Harvest at around 55 days when leaves are fully expanded and feel thick and firm, typically about 8–12 inches long for best texture. Pick outer leaves first and leave the center growing tip intact so the plant continues producing. If leaves start to look tough or overly fibrous, harvest promptly—kale flavor is best when leaves are young and tender, especially before extreme heat.