How to Grow Scots Curly Kale
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Scots Curly Kale
Brassica oleracea var. acephala
vegetableScots Curly Kale is a cold-hardy brassica with distinctive deeply frilled, blue-green leaves that become sweeter after frost. This nutritious leafy green is among the most popular kale varieties and thrives in cool seasons. It produces abundant harvests from a single plant over many weeks.
When should you plant Scots Curly Kale in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Scots Curly Kale timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Scots Curly Kale
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Scots Curly Kale
Around Jun 11≈ 55 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Scots Curly Kale dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 2-9; prefers cooler climates and improves in flavor after light frost
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Get my Scots Curly Kale timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
7-10 daysTiny true leaves emerge after cotyledons; plant is 1-2 inches tall with 2-4 leaves
Keep soil consistently moist. Provide bright light (12-16 hours daily under grow lights). Maintain 65-70°F. Thin seedlings to prevent crowding.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlant develops 6-10 true leaves; gradually increases in size and height without flowering. Leaves become increasingly curled and textured.
Harden off transplants over 7-10 days before planting outdoors. Space 18 inches apart. Water consistently. Apply balanced fertilizer every 3 weeks or use compost side-dressing.
Leaf Development
4-6 weeksPlant reaches 12-24 inches tall with dense, heavily ruffled blue-green foliage. Outer leaves mature and become harvestable.
Begin harvesting outer leaves once plant is established (4-6 weeks after transplanting). Consistent watering is critical. Apply mulch to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Monitor for pests.
Peak Production
8-12 weeks (or until hard freeze or spring bolting)Plant produces abundant mature, curly leaves continuously. Flavor improves significantly after light frosts (below 40°F), as starches convert to sugars.
Continue harvesting outer leaves from bottom up, leaving center for regrowth. Provide light nitrogen feeding. Plants tolerate snow and freezing; harvest after frost for sweetest flavor.
Season End/Bolting
Variable; signals harvest completionIn spring or after prolonged warm weather, plant sends up a central flowering stalk with yellow flowers. Productivity declines.
Harvest remaining leaves before bolting. Pull plant and compost. Flowering signals end of productive season. In mild climates, may overwinter and regrow in spring.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Use floating row covers, hand-pick caterpillars, apply neem oil or spinosad, plant companion flowers like nasturtium as trap crops
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Use row covers on young plants, apply diatomaceous earth, spray neem oil, maintain consistent moisture to reduce plant stress
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Spray strong water jet to dislodge, apply insecticidal soap, use neem oil, encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs
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Hand-pick caterpillars, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), apply spinosad, use row covers to prevent moth egg-laying
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray insecticidal soap, apply neem oil, encourage beneficial insects
Uses
Raw Salads & Smoothies
CulinaryTender young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or blended into smoothies for a nutrient boost. The curled texture adds visual appeal and pleasant bitter notes. [source]
Cooked Greens & Soups
CulinaryMature leaves are excellent sautéed, steamed, or added to soups and stews. Cooking mellows the flavor and improves digestibility of nutrients. [source]
Nutritional Superfood
MedicinalScots Curly Kale is exceptionally rich in vitamins K, C, and A, plus minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium. It contains glucosinolates with potential anti-cancer properties. [source]
Crispy Kale Chips
CulinaryLeaves can be baked with olive oil and sea salt to create a popular crunchy snack that rivals potato chips in taste and texture. [source]
Ornamental Edible Landscaping
HouseholdThe deeply ruffled blue-green foliage makes Scots Curly Kale attractive enough for ornamental gardens while remaining fully edible and productive. [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 4-6 weeks after transplanting when outer leaves are 8-10 inches long. Pinch or cut leaves from the bottom and sides, leaving the central growing point intact for continued production. Harvest regularly to encourage more leaf growth. Flavor improves significantly after light frost (below 40°F). In fall/winter crops, harvest until hard freeze (typically below 10°F); plants may survive moderate freezes. Morning harvest (after dew dries) yields crispest leaves. A single plant can produce for 2-3 months with consistent harvesting.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Scots Curly Kale becomes noticeably sweeter after exposure to frost; gardeners often harvest after the first freeze for peak flavor as plants convert starches to sugars as a cold-survival mechanism.
- 🌱 A single mature kale plant can produce leaves for 2-3 months or longer with regular harvesting, making it one of the most productive vegetables per plant in a home garden.
- 🌱 Kale was highly valued in medieval Scotland and has been cultivated in Northern Europe for over 2,000 years; it became a staple crop because of its extreme cold hardiness and nutritional density.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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