Siberian kale

Succession Planting Kale for a Continuous Harvest

ByStephen Albert

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After decades of growing kale in both mild and challenging climates, I’ve found that succession planting is the single best way to ensure a steady supply of fresh, tender leaves. Instead of planting all at once and watching the crop peak and fade, you can space your plantings over time for harvests that last for months.

Kale aftrer harvest
Kale harvested from bottom up

Why Succession Planting Works for Kale

Kale grows quickly in cool weather and can produce for weeks or months, but individual plants eventually slow down or become tough. By sowing new plants regularly, you always have younger, more tender leaves ready to harvest.

From my experience: In my Sonoma Valley beds, staggering kale plantings every three weeks keeps the salad bowl full from October through May.

Kale seedlings growing in starter trays
Kale seedlings growing in starter trays

Planning Your Succession Schedule

1. Choose Varieties with Different Maturities

  • Fast growers: Premier, Red Russian (ready in 25–30 days for baby leaves)
  • Mid-season: Lacinato, Winterbor (50–60 days)
  • Long-season: Siberian, Portuguese kale (slow to bolt and produce into warm weather)

This variety mix ensures overlap and resilience if one crop struggles.

2. Set Planting Intervals

  • Cool seasons: Every 2–3 weeks until 6 weeks before first frost.
  • Warm climates: Plant every 3–4 weeks during mild months; pause in extreme summer heat.

In my coastal garden years, I planted in August, September, and October, giving me harvests from late fall through spring without gaps.

3. Combine Direct Sowing and Transplants

  • Start some seeds indoors for transplanting.
  • Sow others directly in the garden.
    This gives you plants at different growth stages, perfect for staggered harvesting.

Harvesting for Maximum Production

  • Baby leaves: Begin harvesting when plants are 4–6 inches tall, picking outer leaves first.
  • Mature leaves: Keep harvesting outer leaves regularly to encourage new growth.
  • Rotation: Pull declining plants and replace them immediately with new seedlings.

In my experience, harvesting lightly but often keeps kale sweeter and more tender than taking large cuts infrequently.

Bonus Tip: Overwintering Kale for Spring Harvest

In climates with mild winters, mature kale can overwinter, giving you an early spring harvest while your next succession plantings get started.

Final Thought: With careful planning and a little attention to timing, succession planting kale will keep your kitchen stocked for months. I’ve used this method for decades to enjoy kale almost year-round, and the same strategy will work in your garden too.

Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide. His Vegetable Garden Grower’s Masterclass is available online. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year.

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