Lacinato Kale
Best cold-hardy choice for home gardeners seeking nutritious, versatile leafy greens.
Experience Lacinato Kale, an heirloom variety celebrated for its distinctive dark blue-green, savoyed leaves. Also known as Dinosaur or Tuscan kale, this strain offers exceptional vigor and cold tolerance, making it a reliable choice for your garden. Its tender leaves are perfect for fresh salads and soups, and the flavor sweetens delightfully after frost. This variety is ideal for both baby leaf harvests and mature plants, ensuring a continuous supply of this nutritious vegetable.
$3.57
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
270
/ 5876
#270 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
-66%
Below average
Days to Maturity
3060
/ days baby - full size
Who it's for
- Home cooks seeking superior flavor and texture for fresh meals
- Health-conscious gardeners prioritizing organic and non-GMO growing practices
- Cool-climate growers wanting to extend harvests into the winter months
Who should skip it
- Busy gardeners unable to commit to regular pest monitoring
- Warm-climate growers living in regions with intense summer heat
- Budget-focused gardeners planning large-scale vegetable production
Performance breakdown
Cold Hardiness
Exceptional frost tolerance allows for extended harvests deep into the season.
Growth Versatility
Easily transitions from quick baby leaf crops to full-sized mature plants.
Flavor Profile
Sweetens significantly after a frost, enhancing the culinary quality of leaves.
Germination Reliability
High-quality heirloom genetics ensure consistent and vigorous seedling emergence.
Culinary Utility
Tender texture makes these leaves ideal for both raw salads and soups.
Garden Adaptability
Thrives across a wide range of soil conditions and seasonal planting windows.
Key Specs
Days to Maturity
30 days baby - 60 full size
Seeding Depth
1/4-1/2"
Plant Spacing (Full Size)
12-18”
Row Spacing (Full Size)
18-30”
Seeds/oz
5.6-9.4M (7.5M avg)
Seeds/lb
90-150M (120M avg)
Approximate Seeds per 1/32 oz
225 seeds
Soil pH Requirement
6.0- 7.5
Features
- Heirloom Lacinato Kale variety
- Dark blue-green, savoyed leaves
- Excellent for salads and soups
- Flavor sweetens after frost
- Vigorous and cold tolerant
- Suitable for continual baby leaf harvest
- Improved yield and hardiness
- Ideal for raw kale salads
What customers say
Customers overwhelmingly praise these Lacinato Kale seeds for their exceptional reliability and superior harvest quality. Reviewers consistently report near perfect germination, leading to robust and productive plants that show notable resilience against early frosts. The resulting kale is celebrated for its distinctive texture and sweet, earthy flavor, being significantly less bitter than standard varieties. This makes it highly versatile for salads and cooking. Gardeners feel the dependable performance and gourmet yield deliver outstanding value, confirming these seeds are a top choice for anyone seeking dependable results and excellent culinary kale.
Know before you buy
You can begin harvesting baby leaves in as little as 30 days. For full-sized, mature plants, expect to wait approximately 60 days.
Yes, Lacinato kale is known for its cold tolerance. In fact, the flavor of the leaves often sweetens significantly after the first frost, making it an excellent choice for fall gardens.
To ensure a steady supply, you can sow seeds every few weeks throughout the spring and fall. Because this variety is suitable for baby leaf production, you can harvest young leaves frequently before the plants reach full maturity.
For full-sized plants, space them 12 to 18 inches apart. If you are planting in rows, keep the rows spaced 18 to 30 inches apart to allow for proper airflow and growth.
Lacinato kale thrives in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Ensure the planting site receives full sun and has moderate, consistent moisture to support its vigorous growth.
Yes, this is a classic heirloom variety, also commonly referred to as Dinosaur or Tuscan kale. It is prized for its dark blue-green, savoyed texture and reliable performance.
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