How to Grow Green Frilly

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Green Frilly

Brassica oleracea var. acephala

vegetable

Green Frilly is a decorative and nutritious kale variety distinguished by its deeply ruffled, lacy green leaves that resemble intricate frills or lacework. It is a cool-season brassica that thrives in moderate temperatures and becomes sweeter after frost exposure. This variety is prized for both culinary and ornamental purposes in the garden.

Looking for a specific variety?

Green Frilly Curly Kale Winterbor Lacinato Red Russian Redbor

When should you plant Green Frilly in your zone?

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Example Green Frilly timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Green Frilly
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Green Frilly
Around Jun 11

≈ 55 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Green Frilly dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily; tolerates partial shade (3-4 hours) in hot climates

💧

Water: Consistent moisture; water deeply 1-2 inches per week. Maintain even soil moisture to prevent bitter, tough leaves. Reduce watering slightly in fall to concentrate flavors.

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Spacing: 12-18 inches apart; allows room for frilly leaves to develop fully inches

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Days to maturity: 55-75 days from transplant; up to 90 days from seed

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Planting depth: ¼ inch for seeds; transplants at soil line from nursery pots

Soil

Type: Well-draining, fertile loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-7.5

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Bone meal for calcium Kelp meal or seaweed extract Nitrogen-rich fertilizer at planting

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 2-10; best in cool-season zones 4-8 for maximum flavor and texture

2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny plants with 2-4 true leaves emerge; cotyledons (seed leaves) visible.

Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light indoors or light shade outdoors. Thin seedlings to spacing distance once true leaves appear.

Vegetative Growth

3-5 weeks

Plant develops multiple leaves with increasingly visible frilly margins; stem lengthens slowly.

Water consistently and apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Mulch around base to retain moisture and cool roots. Remove any yellowing lower leaves.

Mature Rosette

4-8 weeks or until harvest

Full, bushy plant with abundant deeply-ruffled green leaves radiating from central stem; can reach 18-24 inches tall.

Continue regular watering and feeding. Harvest outer leaves as needed to encourage continued growth. Watch for pests. Flavor improves after light frost.

Harvest-Ready

Extends 4-12+ weeks depending on temperature and variety

Plant reaches full size with well-developed, tender frilly leaves at peak flavor and texture.

Begin harvesting outer leaves from bottom of plant. Continue watering and harvesting to extend season. Plant sweetens noticeably after 1-2 light frosts.

Post-Harvest & Senescence

2-4 weeks or until plant decline

If left unharvested, plant may bolt (especially in warm weather) or decline in spring; leaves become tougher.

Compost spent plant or allow to decompose in garden. In cool climates, can extend harvest into winter with cold protection.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Beet Chamomile Cilantro Dill Garlic Marigold Nasturtium Onion Parsnip Potato Sage

Avoid planting near:

Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Other brassicas (close relatives that compete for nutrients and share pests)

Common Pests

Hand-pick caterpillars; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; install row covers on seedlings; encourage natural predators like parasitic wasps.
Use row covers on young plants; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; mulch heavily; plant trap crops like radishes nearby.
Hand-pick bugs and egg clusters; use reflective mulches; spray with neem oil; remove debris where bugs overwinter.
Spray with strong water stream; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce ladybugs or lacewings; use reflective mulches.
Use yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; remove heavily infested leaves; provide good air circulation.
Ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; spray with sulfur or baking soda solution; remove infected leaves promptly.

Uses

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Raw Salads & Smoothies

Culinary

Green Frilly's delicate, lacy texture makes it ideal for raw consumption in salads, grain bowls, and green smoothies. The frilly structure adds visual appeal and a slightly tender bite when picked young. [source]

🍳

Sautéed & Cooked Dishes

Culinary

The ruffled leaves wilt down beautifully when sautéed with garlic and olive oil, or can be steamed, braised, or added to soups, curries, and grain dishes. Cooking mellows any bitterness and concentrates flavor. [source]

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Nutritional & Health Benefits

Medicinal

Green Frilly kale is exceptionally nutrient-dense, rich in vitamins K, C, and A, plus minerals like iron, calcium, and manganese. It contains glucosinolates and other compounds studied for anti-inflammatory and potential cancer-preventive properties. [source]

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Ornamental Garden Feature

Household

The striking frilly, lace-like leaves make Green Frilly an attractive decorative element in vegetable and ornamental gardens. It adds textural interest and elegant visual appeal to landscape designs. [source]

🦋

Pollinators & Beneficial Insects

Wildlife

If allowed to bolt and flower (yellow brassica flowers), Green Frilly provides valuable early-season nectar and pollen for honeybees, native bees, and other pollinators. It also hosts parasitic wasps and other beneficial insects. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Begin harvesting outer leaves when plant is 8-10 inches tall by pinching or cutting 2-3 inches from stem base. Continue harvesting outer leaves throughout season to encourage new growth; inner leaves will develop. Leaves are most tender when young. Flavor sweetens noticeably after first light frost (28-32°F). For whole-plant harvest, cut at soil level. For continuous picking, harvest only what you need, allowing plant to continue producing.

Fun Facts

🌱 Green Frilly kale's deeply ruffled leaves have significantly more surface area than smooth-leaved kale varieties, which increases both nutrient density per gram and capacity to absorb dressing in salads.
🌱 Kale becomes sweeter and more tender after exposure to frost; a hard freeze (below 28°F) converts starches into sugars, a process called cold sweetening that makes winter-grown Green Frilly a delicacy.
🌱 Despite its delicate, ornamental appearance, Green Frilly is extremely cold-hardy and can survive temperatures down to -10°F or lower with minimal protection, making it one of the last vegetables to stop producing in fall.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Bolt Compost Full Sun Mulch Partial Shade True Leaves

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