# Kale (Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group))

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/kale · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/kale)

Kale · كرنب أجعد  
vegetable · exotic · family Brassicaceae · grows 0.3–0.8 m tall, 0.4–0.7 m wide · moderate growth  
sun to part shade · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 2 · salt 2 · drought 1 · shade 3 · ease of care 4  
Sow or plant: Oct–Feb  
Uses: edible, container

## Also known as

- **English:** Leaf cabbage, Tuscan kale, Lacinato kale, Dinosaur kale
- **Botanical synonyms:** *Brassica oleracea var. sabellica*, *Brassica oleracea var. acephala*
- **Arabic (العربية):** كرنب أجعد
- **Tamil (தமிழ்):** பரட்டைக்கீரை (Parattaikeerai)
- **Bengali (বাংলা):** পাতা কপি (Pata kopi)
- **Persian (فارسی):** کلم برگ (Kalam barg)

The easiest winter brassica for Dubai beds: sow from October to February, take lower leaves cut-and-come-again from about December, and expect it to bolt as the heat arrives in April.

## About

Meet kale, the plant that makes a Dubai winter bed look lush. Its thick, crinkled leaves stand upright in a loose rosette, blue-green or purple-red, and a single row can keep a household in greens for months.

Its character is easygoing. It tolerates a wide range of soils, takes a little shade, and asks only for sun, regular water and a look under the leaves for caterpillars. Pick the lower leaves and it just keeps growing upwards.

What it brings is the longest harvest of any winter green: leaf after leaf for weeks, with a sweet flavour that UF/IFAS puts among the best of the leafy greens. It is the crop to plant if you want results from your first season.

Kale is the forgiving member of the cabbage family. It is not on the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment's planting calendar, so its dates come from other sources: BBC Good Food Middle East gives October to March for kale in the UAE's cool season, and UF/IFAS says seed can be started from September through January or February. A Dubai gardener profiled by Gulf News grows kale among her vegetables, and the paper's winter guide names kale and spinach as cool-weather crops that suit planting at the start of winter. Gulf News also quotes a Dubai landscaping specialist who puts kale among crops that flourish at 10 to 18°C and suit planting from late November or early December.

UF/IFAS says kale is not a particular plant: it thrives in a wide range of soils in a sunny spot with regular water. Leaves can be picked individually as they become ready, about 70 to 80 days from seed or 55 days from transplants. Harvest the lower leaves, and no more than a third of the plant at a time, and the plant keeps producing through spring. Tuscan or lacinato kale, with blue-green to near-black crinkled leaves, is also called dinosaur kale; 'Winterbor' reaches about 2 feet (60 cm) and 'Redbor' has red-purple leaves. UF/IFAS recommends slow-to-bolt varieties in warm places.

Gulf News gardeners say leafy greens such as kale, spinach and lettuce flourish with a bit of shade, which makes kale a good fit for the cooler side of a raised bed. FAO rates kale (Acephala Group) as moderately sensitive to salt, an estimate rather than a measured threshold, so use clean water on a drip line. Cabbage loopers and other caterpillars chew the leaves: UF/IFAS suggests hand-picking or an occasional Bt spray. By April, Dubai's average high is 34°C and kale begins to bolt, so plan to clear the bed or shade it.

## Through the year

Kale has a long season. Seed is sown from October, and seedlings or transplants go in from October to February in a sunny, lightly shaded raised bed. Leaves are ready from about 55 days after transplanting, so picking runs from about December to April: lower leaves only, never more than a third of the plant. Check for caterpillars, aphids and whitefly from November to March. By April the average high is 34°C, the plant begins to bolt and the leaves turn tougher, so the bed is cleared or shaded.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Oct–Feb | Sow: Main sowing window | BBC Good Food Middle East: October–March. UF/IFAS: seed September to January or February. We end in February because seed takes 70–80 days (UF/IFAS) and April brings heat. |
| Oct–Feb | Plant: Plant out transplants | UF/IFAS says leaves are ready about 55 days after transplants go in. A Dubai specialist quoted by Gulf News suggests planting from late November. |
| Nov–Mar | Pest watch: Caterpillars and aphids | UF/IFAS suggests hand-picking cabbage loopers or an occasional Bt spray; Dubai Garden Centre names aphids, whitefly and leaf miners as common in the UAE. |
| Dec–Apr | Harvest: Pick lower leaves | UF/IFAS: 70–80 days from seed, 55 from transplants; take lower leaves, no more than a third of the plant at a time. |
| Apr–May | Heat stress: Bolting | UF/IFAS recommends slow-to-bolt varieties in warm areas. Dubai's average high reaches 34°C in April and 38°C in May. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Not grown in summer in Dubai; the cool-season crop is finished by about May.
- **Watering in winter:** Water regularly (UF/IFAS), early in the morning from a drip line. Gulf News gardeners say leafy cool-weather crops want consistent moisture and some shade.
- **While establishing:** Keep seed trays and young transplants evenly moist, with light shade in warm October weather.
- **Soil:** Thrives in a wide range of soils (UF/IFAS). In Dubai use sweet soil and compost in a raised bed, since the native sand carries too much salt.
- **Feeding:** Compost at planting and a light liquid feed every few weeks is a sensible routine for a crop picked leaf by leaf.
- **Pruning:** Harvest the lower leaves, and no more than a third of the plant at one time (UF/IFAS). Leave the growing tip.
- **Planting:** Sow October to February in trays or direct, plant out in a sunny spot with a little afternoon shade at the spacing on the seed packet, and choose slow-to-bolt varieties.
- **Pests and problems:** Cabbage loopers; Aphids; Whitefly; Leaf miners
- **Toxicity:** Not known to be toxic; kale is a normal food for people. No ASPCA listing was found for it, so do not treat the plant as pet-safe without checking. UF/IFAS says the leaves of ornamental kale are edible but usually bitter.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Cut-and-come-again: pick lower leaves, never more than a third (UF/IFAS)
- First leaves at about 55 days from transplants, 70–80 from seed (UF/IFAS)
- Long sowing window: October to March per BBC Good Food Middle East
- Flourishes with a bit of shade, so it suits tucked-away corners (Gulf News)

**Cons**
- Bolts in warm weather, so choose slow-to-bolt varieties (UF/IFAS)
- Caterpillars such as cabbage loopers chew the leaves (UF/IFAS)
- Moderately salt-sensitive (FAO estimate); needs clean water
- No Ministry dates: windows come from BBC Good Food ME and UF/IFAS

## Common mistakes

- Sowing in the heat of September. Start in October, in trays in light shade if the weather is still hot.
- Stripping the whole plant. UF/IFAS says to take only the lower leaves, no more than a third at a time.
- Choosing a variety that bolts early. UF/IFAS recommends slow-to-bolt types in warm areas, such as 'Dwarf Blue Curled Vates'.
- Mistaking ornamental kale for the food crop. UF/IFAS says its leaves are edible but usually bitter, and it needs 40°F (4°C) nights to colour up.
- Using salty water. FAO rates the kale group as moderately sensitive to salt, and Dubai Garden Centre says UAE sand has too much.

## Good to know

- BBC Good Food Middle East lists kale among cool-season leafy greens for October to March in the UAE, with spinach and Swiss chard.
- UF/IFAS says Tuscan or lacinato kale has blue-green to black leaves and a crinkly texture, and is also called dinosaur kale.
- UF/IFAS says ornamental kale needs 40°F (4°C) nights to colour up, well below the 15 to 18°C winter nights Wikipedia gives for Dubai.
- Kale is stocked in UAE supermarkets: Spinneys lists Bustanica kale in 150 g packs.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Raised-bed leafy crop, Ornamental edible, Container and trough crop, Cool-season filler

Plant kale at the cooler edge of a raised bed, where it gets morning sun and a little afternoon shade, as Gulf News gardeners suggest for leafy greens. The upright, crinkled rosettes also look good in large pots or a front-of-bed row near the kitchen. Give it a drip line and sweet soil, and keep it away from the salty native sand.

- [Spinach](https://plantguide.ae/plants/spinach.md): Gulf News names kale and spinach together as cool-weather crops for the start of winter, so they share a bed and a calendar.
- [Lettuce](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lettuce.md): Another cool-season leafy crop that likes the same light afternoon shade and even moisture.
- [Cauliflower](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cauliflower.md): A cabbage-family crop with the same October to December window, so the two share pest checks and rotation.
- [Carrot](https://plantguide.ae/plants/carrot.md): A root crop with the same autumn sowing window, to fill the spaces between kale rows.

## FAQ

**When should I sow kale in Dubai?**  
From October. BBC Good Food Middle East gives October to March, and UF/IFAS says seed can be started from September through January or February. Kale is not on the Ministry's calendar.

**How long does kale take to grow?**  
UF/IFAS says leaves are ready about 70 to 80 days from seed, or 55 days from transplants.

**How do I harvest kale so it keeps growing?**  
Pick the lower leaves, and no more than a third of the plant at a time, and the plant keeps producing through spring (UF/IFAS).

**Why is my kale bolting?**  
Warm weather. UF/IFAS recommends slow-to-bolt varieties for warm winters. In Dubai the average high reaches 34°C in April, so expect the crop to end.

**Can kale grow in part shade?**  
Yes. Gulf News gardeners say leafy greens such as kale, spinach and lettuce flourish with a bit of shade.

**What is the difference between kale and ornamental kale?**  
Ornamental or flowering kale is grown for colour. UF/IFAS says its leaves are edible but usually bitter and best used as a garnish.

## Related plants

[Spinach](https://plantguide.ae/plants/spinach.md) · [Lettuce](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lettuce.md) · [Cauliflower](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cauliflower.md) · [Cabbage](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cabbage.md) · [Broccoli](https://plantguide.ae/plants/broccoli.md)

## Photos

![Lacinato kale with crinkled blue-green leaves growing in red soil in Kenya](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Lacinato_Kale.jpg)  
Photo: SeanTwice / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lacinato_Kale.jpg))

![Close-up of curly kale leaves with raindrops on them](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Raindrops_on_curly_kale_%288148802845%29.jpg)  
Photo: Ruth Hartnup / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raindrops_on_curly_kale_(8148802845).jpg))

![A young Tuscan kale plant with dark crinkled leaves, with drip-irrigation tubing beside it](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Nero_di_toscana_kale.jpg)  
Photo: Foodforestation / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nero_di_toscana_kale.jpg))

![A mulched garden bed with rows of Tuscan kale and other vegetables](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Starr-170604-9027-Brassica_oleracea-Tuscano_kale_in_veggie_garden-Hawea_Pl_Olinda-Maui_%2834853246490%29.jpg)  
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr / CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr-170604-9027-Brassica_oleracea-Tuscano_kale_in_veggie_garden-Hawea_Pl_Olinda-Maui_(34853246490).jpg))

## Sources

- [UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment: Dates for Planting Vegetables and Fruits in the UAE](https://moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/56f7a89b/agriculture_calender_page_en.pdf.aspx)
- [BBC Good Food Middle East: A guide to growing fruits and vegetables in the UAE](https://bbcgoodfoodme.com/how-to/a-guide-to-growing-fruits-and-vegetables-in-the-uae)
- [Gulf News: Winter gardening in the UAE, a budget-friendly guide to growing your own vegetables](https://gulfnews.com/friday/home/winter-gardening-in-the-uae-a-budget-friendly-guide-to-growing-your-own-vegetables-1.1733397053629)
- [Gulf News: Gardening tales from the UAE, how to grow a kitchen garden on your balcony this summer](https://gulfnews.com/friday/home/gardening-tales-from-the-uae-how-to-grow-a-kitchen-garden-in-your-balcony-this-summer-1.1679993345418)
- [FAO: Crop salt tolerance data (Annex 1)](https://www.fao.org/4/y4263e/y4263e0e.htm)
- [The National: Garden frenzy (Dubai Garden Centre advice on soil and sowing dates)](https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/garden-frenzy-1.553767)
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (1991 to 2020 normals)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list (no entry found for this plant)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants)
- [UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Kale](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/kale/)
- [Spinneys UAE: Bustanica Healthy Kale 150g](https://www.spinneys.com/en-ae/catalogue/bustanica-healthy-kale-150g_48065/)
- [Wikipedia: Kale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kale)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: كرنب أجعد](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%A8_%D8%A3%D8%AC%D8%B9%D8%AF)
- [Tamil Wikipedia: பரட்டைக்கீரை](https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%80%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88)
- [Bengali Wikipedia: পাতা কপি](https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF)
- [Persian Wikipedia: کلم برگ](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%A9%D9%84%D9%85_%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF)