Dinosaur Kale
Dinosaur Kale is a long, narrow, strap-like leaves with heavily textured surface brassica with fruit around 10-12 lb. Ready from roughly day 125. Germination takes 7-10 days. Space 12-18 inches apart at pH 6.0-7.0. Full sun (6+ hours). It will crop in a container.
Sowing
Direct seed 2-4 weeks before last spring frost or start indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting. For fall harvest, sow 12-14 weeks before first fall frost.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- 1-1.5 inches per week, consistent moisture
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 12-18 inches
- Height
- 9-18 inches
- Season
- Warm season annual
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Dark blue-green with prominent white veins
- Size
- 10-12 lb.
- Shape
- Long, narrow, strap-like leaves with heavily textured surface
- Flavour
- Sweet, nutty flavor with less bitterness than curly kale varieties
In the kitchen
Excellent for sautéing, braising, soups, salads (massage raw leaves), smoothies, and traditional Italian dishes
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, cabbage loopers
- Diseases
- Clubroot, black rot, downy mildew, white rust
- Resistance
- Good resistance to bolting and frost damage. Moderate resistance to common brassica diseases.
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April – May | June – July | June – July | October – September |
| 2 | April – May | June – July | May – July | September |
| 3 | March – April | May – June | May – June | September – October |
| 4 | March – April | May – June | April – June | August – October |
| 5 | February – March | April – May | April – May | August – November |
| 6 | February – March | April – May | April – May | August – November |
| 7 | February – March | April – May | March – May | July – November |
| 8 | January – February | March – April | March – April | July – December |
| 9 | January | February – March | February – March | June – December |
| 10 | January | February – March | January – March | May – December |
| 11 | January | January – February | January – February | April – December |
| 12 | January | January – February | January – February | April – December |
| 13 | January | January – February | January – February | April – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 35
- Protein (g)
- 2.92
- Fat (g)
- 1.49
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 4.42
- Fibre (g)
- 4.1
- Sugars (g)
- 0.99
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 241
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 93.4
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.66
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 390
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.147
- Folate (µg)
- 62
- Calcium (mg)
- 254
- Iron (mg)
- 1.6
- Magnesium (mg)
- 33
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 55
- Potassium (mg)
- 348
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.39
- Selenium (µg)
- 0.9
Where to buy seed and equipment
Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Dinosaur Kale?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other brassicas with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Dinosaur Kale suits these too.
- Attis 118 days
- Divino 110 days
- Silvia 103 days
- Brussels Sprouts 'Long Island Improved' 100 days
- Early Flat Dutch Cabbage 100 days
- Detroit Dark Red 100 days