Vates Kale: The Reliable Garden Workhorse

Vates kale is a time-tested variety that has earned its place in gardens across North America for over a century. With its sturdy, blue-green crinkled leaves and exceptional cold tolerance, Vates delivers consistent harvests and reliable performance season after season.

Why Grow Vates Kale?

Vates kale is celebrated for its balance of hardiness, productivity, and flavor. The leaves are tender enough for salads when young but develop a heartier texture perfect for cooking as they mature. The taste is mild and slightly sweet, without the bitterness that can plague some kale varieties. This versatility makes Vates an excellent choice for both raw and cooked preparations.

This variety is exceptionally cold-hardy, actually becoming sweeter after exposure to frost. It thrives in fall and winter gardens, making it ideal for extending your harvest well beyond the summer season. Vates also produces prolifically, with continuous leaf growth that rewards regular harvesting.

Growing Vates Kale

Vates kale grows best in full sun and well-draining soil enriched with compost or aged manure. Plant seeds directly in the garden or start indoors 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost. Space plants 18-24 inches apart to allow adequate air circulation and room for the plant's upright growth habit.

Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist, and apply mulch to regulate soil temperature and retain moisture. Vates typically matures in 55-75 days and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, making it forgiving for gardeners of all experience levels.

Harvesting for Maximum Yield

Begin harvesting outer leaves once the plant reaches 10-12 inches tall. Remove leaves from the bottom up, allowing the center to continue growing. This method encourages ongoing production throughout the season. Vates can be harvested continuously for months, providing fresh greens from summer through winter in most climates.

In Summary

Vates kale represents the best of traditional gardening—reliable, productive, and delicious. It's a variety that never goes out of style.

• Early Kale variety produces flavorful leaves
  
  - The blue-green leaves are finely curled and reach up to 12-15" tall
  
  - Can handle the cold extremely well
  
  - One of the best frost resistant kale varieties available
  
  
• Days to Maturity | 65 days
  
  
• Kale Seeds | Kale can be planted pretty much anywhere in the United States where there's a cool fall growing season. Plant Kale in rows 18 inches to 2 feet apart. 
  
  Click here for complete Kale grow guide
  
  

Additional Details

Kale is considered to be a highly nutritious vegetable with powerful antioxidant properties; kale is considered to be anti-inflammatory. Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, and reasonably rich in calcium.