The Heirloom “Superfood” for Florida Successions
Among the vast world of leafy greens, Lacinato Kale—frequently called “Dinosaur Kale” or “Black Tuscan”—stands in a league of its own. At our nursery, we cultivate these organic seedlings to provide Florida gardeners with a robust, high-performance green that thrives across multiple planting windows. Recognizable by its dramatic, blue-green (almost black) puckered leaves, Lacinato is an Italian heirloom dating back to the 18th century. We’ve selected this specific strain for its remarkable ability to bridge the gap between Florida’s fluctuating humidity and our bright, sunny days.
Our organic Lacinato seedlings are nurtured with a focus on root-zone health, ensuring they are ready to anchor deeply into your garden beds or large containers. Whether you are a beginner looking for an “indestructible” green or a culinary enthusiast seeking the highest quality kale for raw salads and chips, these starts offer the perfect balance of ornamental beauty and productive vigor.
Engineered by Nature for Resilience
What makes Lacinato particularly valuable for the Florida grower is its structural resilience. The thick, “alligator skin” texture of the leaves is naturally more resistant to the pests that often plague smoother-leaf varieties. While other greens might wilt or become tattered, Lacinato maintains its upright, palm-tree-like growth habit, providing a steady vertical element to your garden design.
Furthermore, this variety is highly celebrated for its temperature versatility. While it is famously cold-hardy—with leaves actually becoming sweeter after a light chill—it also possesses a surprising degree of heat tolerance for a brassica. This makes it an ideal candidate for succession planting throughout much of the year. By integrating new seedlings every few weeks, you can ensure a continuous supply of tender, young leaves, avoiding the “toughness” that can occur in over-mature plants during warmer spells.
The Art of the Perpetual Harvest
One of the most rewarding aspects of growing Lacinato Kale is the “bottom-up” harvest method. As the plant grows, simply snap off the lowest, largest leaves, allowing the top “crown” to continue its upward journey. This method creates a miniature “kale forest” in your garden, where a single plant can provide weekly harvests for an extended period.
To maximize the growth of your organic seedlings, we recommend planting them in well-draining soil rich in organic compost. Because Florida’s sandy soil can be prone to nutrient leaching, a regular application of nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer will help maintain that deep, dark pigment that signifies a nutrient-dense leaf. When planted in full sun to partial shade, these seedlings will quickly become the backbone of your edible landscape.
Culinary Versatility: From Kale Chips to Green Smoothies
In the kitchen, Lacinato is preferred by chefs over “curly” kale for its more delicate, nutty flavor and tender texture. It lacks the bitter edge found in many other varieties, making it the premier choice for raw kale salads—especially when “massaged” with a bit of olive oil and lemon. It is also the legendary base for Ribollita (Tuscan bean soup) and is widely considered the best variety for baking crispy, homemade kale chips. Because our seedlings are grown 100% organically, you can harvest these leaves with the confidence that you are providing the cleanest, most nutrient-rich produce for your family.
Why Choose Our Locally Hardened Seedlings?
Starting from seed in a variable climate can be a gamble. Our Lacinato Kale seedlings give you a four-to-six week head start, bypassing the delicate germination phase where most losses occur. Our starts are “hardened off” to local UV levels, meaning they can handle the transition to your garden without the shock common in “big-box” alternatives. Visit our nursery to hand-select your organic Black Tuscan starts and bring a piece of Italian garden history to your Florida backyard!
