Kale 'Winterbor F1'
Kale 'Winterbor F1' is a hybrid brassica. Germination takes 7-10 days and fruit ripens from about day 60-65. Skin runs to blue-green with purple stems in cold weather. Water need is 1-1.5 inches per week, drought tolerant once established. Suits zones 6-9. It will crop in a container. As a hybrid it will not breed true; saving seed from it is not worth the space.
Sowing
Direct sow or transplant from early spring through late summer. For winter harvest, plant 10-12 weeks before first hard frost.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
- Water
- 1-1.5 inches per week, drought tolerant once established
- Soil
- Well-drained soil, tolerates poor soils better than most brassicas
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.5
- Spacing
- 12-18 inches
- Height
- 10-24 inches
- Season
- Cool season
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Blue-green with purple stems in cold weather
- Size
- Large leaves, 8-12 inches long
- Shape
- Deeply curled and ruffled leaves
- Flavour
- Sweet and mild, especially after frost. Less bitter than many kale varieties.
In the kitchen
Excellent for smoothies, soups, chips, sautéing, and salads when massaged. Perfect for winter stews and braises.
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, leaf miners
- Diseases
- Downy mildew, black rot, white rust, clubroot
- Resistance
- Excellent cold tolerance, good resistance to downy mildew
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April – May | June – July | June – July | August – September |
| 2 | April – May | June – July | May – July | July – September |
| 3 | March – April | May – June | May – June | July – October |
| 4 | March – April | May – June | April – June | June – October |
| 5 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| 6 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| 7 | February – March | April – May | March – May | May – November |
| 8 | January – February | March – April | March – April | May – December |
| 9 | January | February – March | February – March | April – December |
| 10 | January | February – March | January – March | March – December |
| 11 | January | January – February | January – February | February – December |
| 12 | January | January – February | January – February | February – December |
| 13 | January | January – February | January – February | February – 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
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Kale 'Winterbor F1'?
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 Kale 'Winterbor F1' suits these too.
- Peppermint 60 days
- Synergy 60 days
- Collard Greens 'Georgia Southern' 60 days
- Radish 'Daikon 'Miyashige' 60 days
- Purple Vienna Kohlrabi 60 days
- Red Trumpet 60 days