Thousandhead
Kale in the US
Thousandhead kale is a robust and vigorous grower, living up to its name with plenty of leaves. Give it a start undercover, and it'll produce a proper big plant.
Sow window for Kale generally, zone 6. In season now.
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How to grow it
Kale's a cool season crop, so you want to get it going in spring or fall. For warmer USDA zones, that means early spring, even January or February, then again in late summer or fall. If you're in cooler zones, aim for April or May, then July or August. You can sow seeds direct into the ground, about half an inch deep, or start them indoors a few weeks before your last frost date. Space them about 2 inches apart in rows, then thin them out later. Succession planting every few weeks means you'll have a steady supply.
If you've started seeds indoors, once they've got a couple of true leaves, it's time to prick them out into individual pots. Give them a good few weeks to harden off outside before planting them out properly. Find a sunny spot with good soil, and give each plant about 18 to 24 inches of space. That seems a lot, but they grow into proper big plants, like. Some of the dwarf varieties do great in containers too, so don't feel you need a huge plot.
More Kale varieties
Track your Kale from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.