Description
Bring rich flavor and texture to your garden with Nero Toscana Kale, also known as dinosaur kale or black Tuscan kale. This 18th-century heirloom variety features dark green to nearly black, heavily crinkled leaves that add depth to salads, sautés, and soups. Nero Toscana Kale grows vigorously in a variety of climates, producing tender baby greens in just 21 days and full-sized plants in about two months, making it a versatile choice for year-round harvests.
Compact yet productive, Nero Toscana Kale reaches 24″–48″ tall with a 12″–14″ spread, thriving in both beds and containers. Harvest outer leaves as needed or cut the entire plant at maturity, and enjoy its distinctive flavor that intensifies after cool weather. Hardy and cold-tolerant, Nero Toscana Kale is an excellent addition to any garden seeking a nutritious, visually striking green.
This packet sows up to 96 feet. 190 seeds.
Variety Info:
Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea
Days to Maturity: 21–62 days
Family: Brassicaceae
Native: Europe
Hardiness: Biennial grown as an annual, kale is very cold hardy and may overwinter in milder climates.
Plant Dimensions: 24″–48″ tall, 12″–14″ wide
Variety Information: Very dark green, 3″ wide, heavily savoyed (crinkled) leaves.
Sowing Info:
When to Sow Outside: 1 to 2 weeks before your average last frost date, when soil temperature is above 45°F for spring/summer crop; 10 to 12 weeks before your average first fall frost date for fall crop; and in mild climates, fall for very early spring crop.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED: 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date. For a fall crop, start 12 to 14 weeks before your average first fall frost date, transplanting after 4 to 6 weeks. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 65°–85°F.
Days to Emerge: 5–10 days
Seed Depth: ¼”
Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 18″
Row Spacing: 24″
Thinning: When 1″ tall, thin to 1 every 18″
Growing Info:
Harvesting: Outer leaves can be harvested as baby greens when 2″-4″ tall, any time when full-sized beginning with the lowest, or the whole plant can be cut off at ground level at maturity. For fast regrowth, harvest up to only 1/3 of the plant at a time.
