Does kale regrow after harvesting leaves?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Kale is a vegetable that will regrow without much effort, as long as the main growing point of the plant is preserved when harvested. When harvesting kale, I regularly trim the outer leaves off the stem at the base, allowing the plant to focus its energy on producing more new outer leaves, without compromising the healthiness of the crown or plant. I have successfully grown kale for 14 months (including winter) in zone 7b.
Optimal Harvest Timing
- Morning harvests preserve leaf turgor pressure
- Wait until leaves reach 8-12 inches long
- Avoid cutting during flowering phase
Tool Selection
- Use sterilized pruning shears for clean cuts
- Angled cuts shed water to prevent rot
- Bypass blades crush stems less than anvil types
Maintenance is key to re-grow success. I water kale (in containers) twice a week, giving each plant 1/2 gallon of water per watering. Kale planted in the ground needs 1 inch of water per week but will have to be adjusted for rainfall. I also feed once a month with fish emulsion. This was a 30% increase in my yields compared to kale that was not fed.
Winter care extends harvests. I also mulch with straw and cover plants in zones 7-10 for hard freezes.Kale can survive to 20°F, but growth will stop until the temperatures are back over the 40°F mark for spring renewal. I always return to cut outer leaves as soon as it is warm enough.
Do not do what I did: cut the crown, cut wet leaves, or pick over 40%. My first time failed because I picked all the leaves, now I put periods on the calendar to avoid overpicking.
Read the full article: How to Grow Kale: Complete Planting and Harvesting Guide
