Compact kale · keep-leaves
Direct sow. Choose a compact edible kale; four-hour sites can grow more slowly than sunny sites.
Fall kale with repeat leaf harvests
Plan a persistent kale block and a quick young-leaf block without clearing both at once.
Take outer kale leaves while preserving the center. Clear the arugula block when flowering ends its useful leaf stage.
How to use this plan
Retain a productive leaf crop while a quick block finishes.
- Check your starting point Inspect kale new growth and arugula flowering independently as fall progresses.
- Choose the next action Keep usable kale leaves through suitable cool conditions; clear exhausted arugula first.
- Carry out the plan Sow the two block sizes, record each leaf cut and confirm the growing center remains healthy.
- Keep a useful record Separate keep-or-clear decisions for long and short leaf harvests.
If conditions change
- A frost or weather change damages leaves. Assess actual usable growth and local conditions before harvesting or extending the plan; record losses.
Your next step
Direct sow · Compact kale
2027-07-14 to 2027-07-28. Check local conditions first.
40target positions
23 bags40 L · after inventory
Print includes your layout, quantities, sources and the full season. Choose Save as PDF in your browser print dialog.
Your plan, ready to grow
Example dates4 × 8 ft (121.9 × 243.8 cm) · 12 in (30.5 cm) fill depth · 4 hours of sun · Start · Last spring frost · First fall frost
40target positions
906.1 Lusable fill volume
23 bags40 L each · after inventory
16 weeksyour seasonal care plan
Planting layout
Top view · orient tall crops away from the sun-facing edge.
| Zone / crop | Positions | Spacing | Season requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| keep-leaves · Compact kale | 81 planting batch | 18 × 18 in457.2 × 457.2 mm | 18 seeds8 seasonal target positions |
| quick-leaves · Arugula for young leaves | 321 planting batch | 6 × 6 in152.4 × 152.4 mm | 71 seeds32 seasonal target positions |
Square bed spacing is the selected compact planting method. Container spacing describes root positions; foliage may spread beyond the pot. Seed quantities include 10% spare, with 2 small seeds per target and one bean seed per target. Follow cultivar packets if their spacing or sowing instructions differ.
Planting windows
Soil and weather decide the actual planting day.
Arugula for young leaves · quick-leaves
Direct sow. Sow for leaves in cool weather; rapid flowering means the leaf crop is ending.
From planting to clearing
Estimated cycles fit.
These are planning windows. Record what actually happens in your season journal; clear the space before starting the next crop.
keep-leaves · Compact kalePhase 1 · batch 1
- Sow2027-07-14 to 2027-07-28
Choose a compact edible kale; four-hour sites can grow more slowly than sunny sites. Plant only when the seed packet and local weather conditions agree.
- Seedlings2027-07-18 to 2027-08-11
Thin to one strong plant per cell; keep young plants free of crowding. Thin toward 8 positions at 457 × 457 mm when true leaves appear. Keep stronger seedlings. Re-sow gaps only when temperatures and remaining season are suitable.
- Tend2027-07-21 to 2027-09-30
Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- Harvest check2027-09-02 to 2027-10-14
Cut outer leaves while leaving the central growth; reassess quality after frost. The 50–65-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
- Clear / review2027-10-14 to 2027-10-14
Remove spent plants and check the soil before a successor starts. 42 harvest days and 7 clearing days are planning allowances; actual crop condition decides the changeover. Record actual harvests or losses. Keep healthy perennial clumps if you are not reusing their space; revise the next planting accordingly.
quick-leaves · Arugula for young leavesPhase 1 · batch 1
- Sow2027-08-08 to 2027-08-22
Sow for leaves in cool weather; rapid flowering means the leaf crop is ending. Plant only when the seed packet and local weather conditions agree.
- Seedlings2027-08-11 to 2027-09-01
Thin toward marked plants; this is a small-plant method, not broadcast microgreens. Thin toward 32 positions at 152 × 152 mm when true leaves appear. Keep stronger seedlings. Re-sow gaps only when temperatures and remaining season are suitable.
- Tend2027-08-15 to 2027-09-30
Keep the center intact when taking outer leaves and watch for a flower stem. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- Harvest check2027-09-02 to 2027-10-14
Cut usable young leaves; clear tough or flowering plants before a new sowing. The 25–40-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
- Clear / review2027-10-14 to 2027-10-14
Remove spent plants and check the soil before a successor starts. 14 harvest days and 3 clearing days are planning allowances; actual crop condition decides the changeover. Record actual harvests or losses. Keep healthy perennial clumps if you are not reusing their space; revise the next planting accordingly.
What to buy
Owned items are deducted before buying.
| Supply | Required | Already owned | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raised-bed growing mix | 906.1 L | 0 L | 23 × 40 L bags |
| Position labels (reuse after a crop clears) | 40 each | 0 each | 40 each |
| Measuring tool | 1 each | 0 each | 1 each |
| Gentle watering tool | 1 each | 0 each | 1 each |
| Compact kale · keep-leaves | 18 seeds | 0 seeds | 18 seeds |
| Arugula for young leaves · quick-leaves | 71 seeds | 0 seeds | 71 seeds |
Mix: 906.1 L theoretical × 1 allowance = 906.1 L; minus 0 L owned = 906.1 L net. Buying 920 L leaves 13.9 L beyond the net requirement. Allowance is your choice; no fixed compaction loss is assumed.
Your full season
16 weeks, through harvest checks and bed clearing. Check off each week as you work.
01Prepare and begin2027-07-01 — 2027-07-07To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- Measure the usable space. Prepare 906.1 L of raised-bed growing mix before allowance. Take outer kale leaves while preserving the center. Clear the arugula block when flowering ends its useful leaf stage.
02Check, tend and act · week 22027-07-08 — 2027-07-14To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Direct sow. Choose a compact edible kale; four-hour sites can grow more slowly than sunny sites. Plant only when the seed packet and local weather conditions agree.
03Check, tend and act · week 32027-07-15 — 2027-07-21To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Direct sow. Choose a compact edible kale; four-hour sites can grow more slowly than sunny sites. Plant only when the seed packet and local weather conditions agree.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Check emergence and thin. Thin to one strong plant per cell; keep young plants free of crowding. Thin toward 8 positions at 457 × 457 mm when true leaves appear. Keep stronger seedlings. Re-sow gaps only when temperatures and remaining season are suitable.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
04Check, tend and act · week 42027-07-22 — 2027-07-28To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Direct sow. Choose a compact edible kale; four-hour sites can grow more slowly than sunny sites. Plant only when the seed packet and local weather conditions agree.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Check emergence and thin. Thin to one strong plant per cell; keep young plants free of crowding. Thin toward 8 positions at 457 × 457 mm when true leaves appear. Keep stronger seedlings. Re-sow gaps only when temperatures and remaining season are suitable.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- Recount surviving plants before buying replacements. Check remaining seed, seedling and growing-mix inventory.
05Check, tend and act · week 52027-07-29 — 2027-08-04To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Check emergence and thin. Thin to one strong plant per cell; keep young plants free of crowding. Thin toward 8 positions at 457 × 457 mm when true leaves appear. Keep stronger seedlings. Re-sow gaps only when temperatures and remaining season are suitable.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
06Check, tend and act · week 62027-08-05 — 2027-08-11To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Check emergence and thin. Thin to one strong plant per cell; keep young plants free of crowding. Thin toward 8 positions at 457 × 457 mm when true leaves appear. Keep stronger seedlings. Re-sow gaps only when temperatures and remaining season are suitable.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Direct sow. Sow for leaves in cool weather; rapid flowering means the leaf crop is ending. Plant only when the seed packet and local weather conditions agree.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Check emergence and thin. Thin toward marked plants; this is a small-plant method, not broadcast microgreens. Thin toward 32 positions at 152 × 152 mm when true leaves appear. Keep stronger seedlings. Re-sow gaps only when temperatures and remaining season are suitable.
07Check, tend and act · week 72027-08-12 — 2027-08-18To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Direct sow. Sow for leaves in cool weather; rapid flowering means the leaf crop is ending. Plant only when the seed packet and local weather conditions agree.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Check emergence and thin. Thin toward marked plants; this is a small-plant method, not broadcast microgreens. Thin toward 32 positions at 152 × 152 mm when true leaves appear. Keep stronger seedlings. Re-sow gaps only when temperatures and remaining season are suitable.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Keep the center intact when taking outer leaves and watch for a flower stem. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
08Check, tend and act · week 82027-08-19 — 2027-08-25To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Direct sow. Sow for leaves in cool weather; rapid flowering means the leaf crop is ending. Plant only when the seed packet and local weather conditions agree.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Check emergence and thin. Thin toward marked plants; this is a small-plant method, not broadcast microgreens. Thin toward 32 positions at 152 × 152 mm when true leaves appear. Keep stronger seedlings. Re-sow gaps only when temperatures and remaining season are suitable.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Keep the center intact when taking outer leaves and watch for a flower stem. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- Recount surviving plants before buying replacements. Check remaining seed, seedling and growing-mix inventory.
09Check, tend and act · week 92027-08-26 — 2027-09-01To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Check emergence and thin. Thin toward marked plants; this is a small-plant method, not broadcast microgreens. Thin toward 32 positions at 152 × 152 mm when true leaves appear. Keep stronger seedlings. Re-sow gaps only when temperatures and remaining season are suitable.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Keep the center intact when taking outer leaves and watch for a flower stem. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
10Check, tend and act · week 102027-09-02 — 2027-09-08To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut outer leaves while leaving the central growth; reassess quality after frost. The 50–65-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Keep the center intact when taking outer leaves and watch for a flower stem. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut usable young leaves; clear tough or flowering plants before a new sowing. The 25–40-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
11Check, tend and act · week 112027-09-09 — 2027-09-15To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut outer leaves while leaving the central growth; reassess quality after frost. The 50–65-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Keep the center intact when taking outer leaves and watch for a flower stem. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut usable young leaves; clear tough or flowering plants before a new sowing. The 25–40-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
12Check, tend and act · week 122027-09-16 — 2027-09-22To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut outer leaves while leaving the central growth; reassess quality after frost. The 50–65-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Keep the center intact when taking outer leaves and watch for a flower stem. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut usable young leaves; clear tough or flowering plants before a new sowing. The 25–40-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
- Recount surviving plants before buying replacements. Check remaining seed, seedling and growing-mix inventory.
13Check, tend and act · week 132027-09-23 — 2027-09-29To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut outer leaves while leaving the central growth; reassess quality after frost. The 50–65-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Keep the center intact when taking outer leaves and watch for a flower stem. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut usable young leaves; clear tough or flowering plants before a new sowing. The 25–40-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
14Check, tend and act · week 142027-09-30 — 2027-10-06To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Inspect leaf undersides and the growing center; identify pests before choosing a treatment. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut outer leaves while leaving the central growth; reassess quality after frost. The 50–65-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Tend the growing crop. Keep the center intact when taking outer leaves and watch for a flower stem. Check moisture, surviving plants, weeds, support and visible crop stage; adjust to rain, heat and drainage.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut usable young leaves; clear tough or flowering plants before a new sowing. The 25–40-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
15Check, tend and act · week 152027-10-07 — 2027-10-13To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut outer leaves while leaving the central growth; reassess quality after frost. The 50–65-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut usable young leaves; clear tough or flowering plants before a new sowing. The 25–40-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
16Finish and review the season2027-10-14 — 2027-10-20To do
- Check moisture by touch in each active root zone; adjust watering to rain, heat and drainage. Containers may need checks between weekly visits.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut outer leaves while leaving the central growth; reassess quality after frost. The 50–65-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
- keep-leaves (Compact kale), batch 1: Clear and review the planting. Remove spent plants and check the soil before a successor starts. 42 harvest days and 7 clearing days are planning allowances; actual crop condition decides the changeover. Record actual harvests or losses. Keep healthy perennial clumps if you are not reusing their space; revise the next planting accordingly.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Check harvest readiness. Cut usable young leaves; clear tough or flowering plants before a new sowing. The 25–40-day range begins at direct sowing; check the cultivar and actual crop. Record what is actually ready; this estimate is not a yield guarantee.
- quick-leaves (Arugula for young leaves), batch 1: Clear and review the planting. Remove spent plants and check the soil before a successor starts. 14 harvest days and 3 clearing days are planning allowances; actual crop condition decides the changeover. Record actual harvests or losses. Keep healthy perennial clumps if you are not reusing their space; revise the next planting accordingly.
- Recount surviving plants before buying replacements. Check remaining seed, seedling and growing-mix inventory.
- Review harvest and crop-loss records, clear or retain plants as appropriate, and update remaining stock before planning the next season.
Assumptions and sources
- Spacing is for the selected compact planting method; follow your cultivar packet where it differs.
- Seed allowance and minimum root-space limits are planning choices, not germination or yield guarantees.
- Dates are preparation windows, not forecasts. Confirm soil temperature, weather and actual crop stage.
- First fall frost is a conservative planning boundary, including for hardy crops. Continuing beyond it needs suitable local guidance and protection.
- Harvest and clearing durations are planning allowances. A successor waits for the final preceding batch to clear; actual crop progress may move those dates.
Fall plans use a 14-day buffer beyond estimated maturity. Successors wait for the final preceding batch, including its harvest allowance and clearing period. The lifecycle shows those crop-specific windows; the zone must actually be empty. Minimum sun and root-space thresholds are planning limits, with cultivar and climate variation.
- UMD Extension: Growing leafy greens in a home gardenKale and pac choi can be direct sown or transplanted; partial shade is possible. Fall planning adds 10–14 days to maturity for shorter days. We select 14 days and compact-cultivar bed cells; dates are conditional. Accessed 2026-10-13.
- UMD Extension: Growing vegetables in containers and salad tablesSun exposure, drainage, growing media and crop-specific minimum volumes; our thresholds are conservative planning settings. Accessed 2026-10-13.
- UMN Extension: Planting the vegetable gardenCool and warm season establishment; weather and soil readiness matter. Minnesota month dates are not used as global dates. Accessed 2026-10-13.
- UMN Extension: Planting for fall harvestMaturity is a cultivar-dependent estimate; our extra 14-day fall buffer is an explicit planning assumption. Accessed 2026-10-13.
- UMD Extension: Salad greens to grow in salad tables or salad boxesArugula and kale are among suitable salad greens. Our arugula plan uses individually thinned young-leaf plants, not a dense broadcast seed rate. Accessed 2026-10-13.
Plan garden-34 · version 2 · calculation 2. Actual germination, harvest and local climate performance have not been field tested.
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