Lacinato Kale

Lacinato kale, also known as Dinosaur kale, Tuscan kale, or Black kale, is a beloved heirloom variety prized for its long, dark blue-green leaves with a distinctive savoyed texture. This variety is celebrated for its rich, earthy flavour and exceptional tenderness, making it a favourite for salads, sautés, soups, and chips. Lacinato kale is highly nutritious, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and thrives in Canadian gardens from spring through fall.

Key Features of Lacinato Kale Seeds

• Heirloom, open-pollinated seeds
• Produces long, narrow, deeply textured leaves with a dark blue-green colour
• Rich, earthy flavour and tender texture—ideal for fresh eating, cooking, or making kale chips
• Highly nutritious: excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, plus calcium and iron
• Cold-hardy and frost-tolerant, with improved sweetness after exposure to cool temperatures
• Adaptable to a wide range of Canadian climates and soil types
• Reliable performance and high yields
• Suitable for spring and summer sowing

Planting and Growing Lacinato Kale

• Sow seeds directly outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked in spring; kale tolerates cool weather and light frost
• Plant seeds 1 cm (½ inch) deep, 30–45 cm (12–18 inches) apart in rows spaced 45–60 cm (18–24 inches)
• Thin seedlings to 30–45 cm apart for larger plants
• Choose a sunny location with well-drained, fertile soil
• Maintain consistent moisture; mulch during hot weather to keep soil cool
• Days to maturity: 60–75 days

Care Tips

• Water regularly to prevent wilting and promote tender leaves
• Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds
• Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer every 4–6 weeks
• Monitor for pests such as cabbage worms and aphids; use row covers or insecticidal soap if needed
• Rotate crops annually to prevent soil-borne diseases

Harvesting & Storing

• Harvest outer leaves as needed for a continuous supply; young leaves are especially tender and flavourful
• Leaves can be used raw in salads, cooked in soups and stews, or baked into chips
• Store harvested leaves at 2°C and high humidity for up to 1 week

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does Lacinato kale need full sun? Yes—at least 6–8 hours daily.
• When should I plant Lacinato kale seeds? Sow outdoors after the last frost, or start indoors for an earlier crop.
• Can I grow Lacinato kale in containers? Yes—use containers at least 12 inches across with loose, well-drained soil