When to Plant: Cole crop greens are hardy to temperatures just below freezing and can be planted up to one month before our last frost date.

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Light: Partial to Full Sun (6+ hours/day)

Soil: Well-drained, rich soil is best, making raised beds and container planting ideal. If planting in a container, use general-purpose potting mix.

Provide moisture when the top 2” of soil/mix is dry. Time between watering cycles is determined by your soil type and climate. If in a container, daily watering may be necessary.

If planted in a container, try a slow-release fertilizer for easy care, following the recommended bottle rates.

If planted in ground, fertilize according to the needs of your soil. A soil test in fall or winter months when the garden is not in use is ideal to determine what you should add. Check out the Kansas Garden Guide for more information on fertilizers.

Chard & Kale: Start harvesting when the plant reaches 6-8” tall. Harvesting the oldest, outside leaves first, avoiding the center. As the plant grows, it will produce new, tender leaves at the center. Avoid tough leaves by harvesting earlier rather than later.

Lettuce & Arugula: These greens may rebound once after a single harvest, but is often stagger planted to harvest over several weeks.

Bitter greens are often an issue for gardeners. To avoid, bitter greens…

1. Prevent plant bolting (flowering) by planting early to avoid warm and long days that trigger flowering. Plant into rich soil that has been amended with compost and keep soil moist but not swampy.

2. Add fertilizer or composted manure to your soil before planting to ensure nutrition support of plants all the way to maturity.