Dinosaur Aka Lacinato Kale
Brassica Oleracea

days to maturity: 65
plant spacing: 1 plant per square foot
sunlight requirements: 6 - 14 hours of sunlight
look out for: aphids
harvest notes: harvest outer leaves once 12” long, leave small interior leaves to mature
seasons: fall, winter, spring
annual

This kale variety goes by plenty of names: Jurassic Kale, Dinosaur Kale, Tuscan Kale, Lacinato Kale, and it has just as many uses as it does nicknames. Our most successful and productive kale variety on the farm, Lacinato Kale can be grown all season and if cared for properly can even produce healthy leaves through the summer months (although their flavor will decrease in deliciousness due to heat). As older leaves are harvested from the outside of the plant, it will continue to produce new growth from the interior, with the plant getting taller and taller, sometimes reaching shoulder height by spring and resembling a small palm tree. This explains one of its other names we forgot: palm tree kale! A few kale plants in the home garden will go a long way in the kitchen, plus since they are easy to grow they are great for beginners. If you’re growing your kale in a low sun environment it will just grow slower and get a bit “leggy” which is the term for plants that stretch too tall to reach the sun, however it will still make you a decent amount of food in a partial shade garden.