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Quick Facts
- Sowing window
- Sow from March to June for planting out from late spring.
- Harvest window
- Pick lower leaves from late summer through winter, leaving the crown to keep growing.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Container suitability
- Use one full-size kale plant per 20–30 litre pot, or space baby-leaf plants 15cm apart in a trough. Dwarf types cope best with exposed patios.
- Frost sensitivity
- Hardy once established
- Typical time to harvest
- Timing varies with sowing date, but allow roughly four to seven months for a mature crop.
SOW
When to Sow Kale Black Tuscany (Cavolo Nero) in the UK
Sow from March to June for planting out from late spring.
Use that window as a practical starting point rather than a fixed deadline. In colder or exposed areas, delay outdoor sowing and planting; in mild sheltered areas, the earlier end of the range may work. Tender crops should remain protected until frost risk has passed.
Sowing Indoors
Sow in modules or a protected seedbed and give seedlings strong light. Potting on promptly avoids the check to growth that can spoil cauliflower and other brassicas.
Sowing Outdoors
Sow Kale Black Tuscany (Cavolo Nero) in a prepared seedbed or plant module-grown seedlings into firm soil. Protect young plants with fine mesh from the day they go outside.
PLANT
Spacing and Planting Out
Space 35–45cm apart, or closer for repeated baby-leaf harvests.
Before planting outside, harden off indoor-raised plants over 7–10 days unless the crop is fully hardy and already accustomed to outdoor conditions. Water the planting hole or container first and avoid leaving young roots exposed to sun or wind.
SMALL SPACES
Growing Kale Black Tuscany (Cavolo Nero) in Pots and Containers
Use one full-size kale plant per 20–30 litre pot, or space baby-leaf plants 15cm apart in a trough. Dwarf types cope best with exposed patios.
Container checklist
- Use drainage holes and raise pots slightly so surplus water can escape.
- Fill with fresh peat-free compost suited to edible crops.
- Leave a watering lip below the rim and check pots more often in sun or wind.
- Use a strong support at planting time if the mature crop will climb or become top-heavy.
CARE
Watering and Feeding
Water deeply during dry spells and never allow young plants to stall. A balanced feed at planting and an occasional high-nitrogen feed during leafy growth can help container plants, but avoid overfeeding near harvest.
Variety note: Space mature plants 30–60cm apart and net against pigeons and cabbage caterpillars.
WATCH FOR
Common Problems
Cabbage white caterpillars
Use fine mesh supported above the leaves and check undersides for eggs. Repair gaps immediately.
Pigeons
Birds can strip winter brassicas quickly. Secure netting so birds cannot become trapped.
Clubroot
Stunted, wilting plants with swollen roots may indicate clubroot. Use clean compost in containers and rotate brassicas in beds.
PICK
Harvesting Kale Black Tuscany (Cavolo Nero)
Pick lower leaves from late summer through winter, leaving the crown to keep growing.
Timing varies with sowing date, but allow roughly four to seven months for a mature crop. Harvest in the coolest part of the day where practical and handle produce gently. Regular picking encourages continued cropping in fruiting and cut-and-come-again plants.
GROW TOGETHER
Companion Plants
Lettuce or radish can be grown temporarily between young brassicas and harvested before the canopy closes. Strong-smelling companions do not replace mesh against caterpillars.
QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Kale Black Tuscany (Cavolo Nero) in pots?
Use one full-size kale plant per 20–30 litre pot, or space baby-leaf plants 15cm apart in a trough. Dwarf types cope best with exposed patios.
How long does Kale Black Tuscany (Cavolo Nero) take to harvest?
Timing varies with sowing date, but allow roughly four to seven months for a mature crop.
Why is my Kale Black Tuscany (Cavolo Nero) not forming a crop?
Interrupted growth from dry soil, root restriction, loose planting, heat or late sowing is often responsible. Keep plants firm, evenly moist and moving steadily.