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Kale 'Starbor' F1 Hybrid - Kew Collection Seeds

Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) | Borecole

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Thompson & Morgan is delighted to work alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to offer special seed collections to home gardeners. The Kew Collection and The Kew Urban Garden Collection have been specially selected by The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

This uniform variety can be grown year round on the windowsill for a constant supply of tasty baby leaves. If grown outdoors for a mature crop, Kale 'Starbor' produces delicious blue-green leaves with a superb flavour and texture. The densely curled leaves are extremely winter hardy and stand well for harvesting over a very long period. Height: 40cm (16"). Spread: 45cm (18").

Companion planting: Try growing kale with Nasturtiums to draw cabbage white butterflies away from your crop, and mint to help deter flea beetles.

Useful links:

Companion Planting
How to sow brassica seeds
Reasons to buy your seeds from Thompson & Morgan


1 Packet (25 Seeds) (31979)

For salad leaves Kale can be sown indoors all year round. Harvest 30 days from sowing during summer and up to 60 days during winter months. For mature plants, sow Kale seed from March to June. Direct sow outdoors into a well prepared seedbed, for transplanting to their final positions later on. Sow at a depth of 1cm (1/2") and distance of 23cm (9") between rows. Kale plants can be transplanted to their final positions approximately 5 weeks from sowing.

Grow kale in firm, rich fertile, well drained soil in sun or semi shade. Prepare the soil in early spring by adding plenty of well rotted farmyard manure to the soil to improve its structure and fertility. Apply lime to acid soils to reduce the acidity and lessen the risk of clubroot. When transplanting kale, plant it slightly deeper in the ground than it was in the seedbed. Plant kale at a distance of 60cm (24") apart and cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. Water the plants thoroughly after planting.

Kale is exceptionally hardy and requires little aftercare. Water when necessary and hoe between plants regularly to prevent weeds from establishing and bring insect larvae to the surface. Kale can be harvested from September as young leaves using a cut and come again method, but will stand well in the ground for a long time throughout winter, and improves in flavour after it has been frosted. Pinch out the centre stem first to encourage side shoots to develop. Harvest kale when it is required as the leaves do not store well, unless they are frozen.

Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email.

Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99.

Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £6.99.

Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £7.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.

Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket.

Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations.

For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes.

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