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Brassica Microgreen

Kale

Kale microgreens (Brassica oleracea) are a brassica microgreen with a mild, earthy and green flavor, ready to harvest in 8-12 days. MicrogreenUSA grows them sushi-grade indoors for wholesale standing orders, and they are best for health menus and bowls.

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Kale Microgreens

Kale microgreens offer all the wholesome, earthy character of kale with none of the toughness - tender, mild and endlessly marketable to health-forward menus.

Salads, grain bowls, juice and smoothie programs, and as a nutrient-dense garnish on wellness-oriented plates.

Order Kale Wholesale →
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Common nameKale
Botanical nameBrassica oleracea
CategoryBrassica
FlavorMild, earthy, green
Grow time8-12 days
Best forHealth menus, bowls
AvailabilityYear-round wholesale
Minimum order5 lbs / week
Grow Data & Sources

What do seed suppliers publish for growing kale microgreens?

These figures are True Leaf Market's published guide for Kale - Red Russian - Microgreens Seeds (Latin name on page: Brassica oleracea) plus Kale, Red Russian (363M) from Johnny's Selected Seeds' 2017 yield trial, not our farm schedule (that is on our process page).

Seeding rate (10x20 tray)1 oz per 10"x 20" tray
Pre-soakNo (No Soak)
Germination2-3 days
Blackout1-2 days
Days to harvest8-12 days
Flavorstrong broccoli (brassica) flavor, nutty and rich
Seed per 1020 tray (Johnny's trial)10 g
Yield per 1020 tray (Johnny's trial)11 oz
Days to first true leaf (Johnny's)13.5

Sources: True Leaf Market, Johnny's Selected Seeds.

How does kale compare with the other microgreens we grow?

At 8-12 days, kale is the 8th fastest of 18 varieties by supplier harvest window, tied with broccoli, purple kohlrabi, mustard and Swiss chard. Its 11 oz trial yield is 2nd of 13, 1.10 oz of kale per gram of seed. Kale goes on dry in the supplier guide.

Is there USDA nutrition data for kale microgreens?

Not from a lab: FoodData Central has only 1 manufacturer label listing for kale microgreens, so we print no nutrient figures.

Are kale microgreens a food-safety concern?

FDA classes kale microgreens as covered produce, not sprouts (FDA guidance).

Common Questions

Kale FAQ

What do kale microgreens taste like?

Kale microgreens have a mild, earthy and green flavor. They offer all the wholesome, earthy character of kale with none of the toughness - tender, mild and endlessly marketable to health-forward menus. They are the young cotyledon-stage greens of Brassica oleracea, harvested before the first true leaves appear.

How long do kale microgreens take to grow?

Kale microgreens take 8-12 days from seed to harvest in our indoor farm. The seed gets a 4-6 hour soak in RO-filtered water before seeding. For comparison, seed suppliers publish 8-12 days in True Leaf Market's guide and about 13.5 days to first true leaf in Johnny's 2017 trial. By that supplier window it is the 8th fastest of the 18 varieties we grow. Our full growing process is on our process page.

How do chefs use kale microgreens?

Salads, grain bowls, juice and smoothie programs, and as a nutrient-dense garnish on wellness-oriented plates. In our wholesale program they are best for health menus and bowls. They are available year-round on a standing weekly order, on their own or as part of a custom blend with other varieties from our catalog of 20.

How long do kale microgreens last after delivery?

Kale microgreens keep 7-10 days, like most of our varieties, when refrigerated at 34-38°F in sealed packaging and kept away from ethylene-producing produce. They are clean-cut with sanitized blades and in cold storage within 45 minutes of harvest, so orders typically arrive with 5-10 days of shelf life remaining.

How do I order kale microgreens wholesale?

Order through a MicrogreenUSA wholesale account. The minimum is 5 lbs per week for a single restaurant, and kale microgreens can be packed in 2, 4 or 8 oz anti-fog clamshells, 1-5 lb vacuum-sealed bulk pouches or uncut living trays. Southeast USA accounts get deliveries on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and we reply to applications within 24 business hours.

Do kale microgreen seeds need soaking?

True Leaf Market's grow guide for Kale - Red Russian - Microgreens Seeds (Latin name on page: Brassica oleracea) lists no pre-soak, then lists 2-3 days germination, 1-2 days of blackout and 8-12 days to harvest. Our farm sets its own soak times by seed size; the schedule is on our process page.

How much does a tray of kale microgreens yield?

Johnny's Selected Seeds measured 11 oz per 1020 tray for Kale, Red Russian (363M) in its 2017 microgreen yield trial, from 10 g of seed, cut at about 13.5 days at the first true leaf. Johnny's calls these rounded averages that vary with seed lot, density and timing. Among our varieties in that trial, kale ranks 2nd of 13 for yield.