Kale — How to Grow Kale in Australia

☀️ Sun

Full Sun

💧 Water

Medium

↔ Spacing

40cm apart

↕ Height

Up to 80cm

📅 Harvest

60 days

Growing Guide

Kale grows best during the cooler months in most Australian regions. In temperate and cool temperate zones, sow seed or transplant seedlings in autumn (March–May) or late winter (July–August) for a long productive season. In subtropical areas like South East Queensland, plant from autumn through to early spring (March–September) to avoid the heat and humidity of summer. Mediterranean climate gardeners in Perth and Adelaide can plant from autumn through winter with excellent results.

Prepare soil thoroughly by digging in aged compost and well-rotted manure to a depth of 30 cm. Kale prefers a slightly alkaline to neutral pH of 6.0–7.0, so apply garden lime if your soil is acidic. Space plants 45–60 cm apart to allow good airflow and vigorous growth.

Water consistently and deeply, aiming for about 2–3 cm per week. Mulch around the base with sugar cane or pea straw to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Avoid overhead watering to reduce fungal disease risk.

Feed every three to four weeks with a nitrogen-rich liquid fertiliser to support leafy growth. Begin harvesting outer leaves once the plant is established at around 8–10 weeks, always leaving the central growing tip intact so the plant continues producing. Regular harvesting encourages bushier, more productive growth. Kale can be harvested continuously for four to six months under good conditions.

🤝 Good Companions

Plant kale alongside garlic nasturtiums dill and silverbeet — garlic repels aphids and cabbage moths nasturtiums act as a sacrificial trap crop for pests and dill attracts beneficial predatory insects that target common brassica pests. Silverbeet makes efficient use of space and shares similar water and soil requirements without competing aggressively.

❌ Avoid Planting With

Avoid planting kale near other brassicas such as broccoli cabbage or cauliflower as they share the same pests and diseases increasing the risk of club root cabbage moth and aphid infestations spreading rapidly through your patch. Strawberries and tomatoes are also poor companions for kale as they can inhibit each other's growth.

🐛 Pests & Diseases

In Australia, kale's most common pests are cabbage white butterfly caterpillars, aphids, and harlequin bugs, which can devastate foliage quickly if left unchecked. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for caterpillars, use a strong jet of water or neem oil spray for aphids, and hand-pick harlequin bugs in the early morning. Club root is a soil-borne fungal disease common in acidic soils — prevent it by liming beds before planting and practising a strict three-year crop rotation with non-brassica vegetables.

🌱 Fertilising

Feed kale every three to four weeks with a liquid nitrogen-rich fertiliser such as fish emulsion or a seaweed and fish blend to promote lush, productive leafy growth throughout the season. At planting time, incorporate a slow-release organic pelletised fertiliser high in nitrogen into the soil to provide a steady nutritional foundation.

✂️ Pruning & Training

Kale does not require traditional pruning, but regularly removing outer leaves from the bottom up encourages the plant to keep pushing new growth from the central crown, extending the harvest season significantly. If the plant begins to bolt and send up a flower stalk, pinch out the tip promptly to redirect energy back into leaf production and delay the end of the harvest.

🔬 Propagation

Kale is most easily propagated from seed, sown directly into prepared garden beds or into seed trays and transplanted once seedlings reach 10 cm tall with at least two true leaves. Sow seeds 5–10 mm deep and keep the growing medium consistently moist until germination, which typically occurs within seven to fourteen days under suitable cool to mild temperatures.

🗓 When to Plant

All

🌾 Harvest

All

🌏 Australian Climates

Temperate Cool Temperate Mediterranean Subtropical

More Vegetables

Tomato → Lettuce → Broad Bean → Spinach → Garlic → Pumpkin →