Introduction

The Stardew Valley Kale Crop Guide offers a comprehensive look at this Spring crop, which grows from Kale Seeds purchased for 70 gold each at Pierre’s Shop. Kale is a relatively low-maintenance crop, requiring just 6 days to grow before it can be harvested. It can be grown in the Spring season, and the plant produces waxy green leaves, which are commonly used in a variety of in-game recipes, particularly in soups and stir-fries. These leaves are also highly valued by certain villagers, such as Pam, who has a strong preference for Kale as a gift.

While Kale isn’t as profitable as some other Spring crops, it does have its advantages. Each Kale plant can be sold for 40 gold, which is a fair return given the short growing period. Though it doesn’t generate the massive profits that more advanced crops might, Kale provides a solid income for players in the early stages of the game when gold is needed for essential upgrades, like tools and farm expansion. In addition to the gold value, Kale can also be used in cooking recipes, contributing to energy restoration for the player.

Another key benefit of Kale is its role in the Community Center bundles. Specifically, Kale is required for the “Spring Crops Bundle,” which helps unlock rewards and progress in the Community Center. This makes Kale an important crop to focus on, especially for players aiming to complete these objectives and earn valuable rewards, such as sprinklers or access to new areas of the farm.

Overall, while Kale may not be the highest-yielding crop in terms of profitability, its quick growth time, usefulness in cooking, and importance for the Community Center make it a worthwhile addition to any Spring farming strategy. It provides players with a reliable source of income, early-game resources, and opportunities for both gifting and fulfilling bundle requirements.

How to Obtain Kale Seeds

Kale seeds in Stardew Valley can be acquired through several methods, each offering different prices and availability. The primary and most reliable source is Pierre’s General Store, located in the Town Square of Pelican Town. Pierre’s shop operates daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but it is closed on Wednesdays. However, if the Community Center is completed, or if the player has chosen the JojaMart route, Pierre’s store will be open on Wednesdays as well. Kale seeds are sold for 70 gold each here, making it an accessible option for players who are starting out and need a dependable supply of crops for the Spring season.

In addition to Pierre’s, JojaMart provides another option for purchasing Kale seeds, though at a higher cost. JojaMart is located south of Pelican Town and is open every day from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM. To purchase items from JojaMart, including Kale seeds, players must first purchase a JojaMart membership for 5,000 gold. Once a membership is obtained, Kale seeds can be bought for 87 gold each, which is 17 gold more expensive than at Pierre’s store.

The Traveling Cart, which is located in the Cindersap Forest west of Marnie’s Ranch, is another way to find Kale seeds. The cart operates on Fridays and Sundays from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and while Kale seeds may be available for purchase, the price can vary greatly, ranging anywhere from 105 gold to 1,000 gold. This option is more unpredictable due to the fluctuating prices, but it can occasionally offer a chance to stock up on Kale seeds at a reduced price compared to JojaMart.

During the Night Market on Winter 15, the Magic Shop Boat sells Kale seeds for 70 gold each, matching the price at Pierre’s General Store. This is a seasonal opportunity, available only during the special event, and is a convenient way to purchase seeds without needing to visit Pierre’s store.

Kale seeds can also be found in treasure rooms within the Skull Cavern, though this is a rare occurrence. If players are exploring the cavern and find treasure rooms, they may come across Kale seeds as part of the loot, but it is not a guaranteed method.

Lastly, players can use a Seed Maker to generate Kale seeds. After harvesting Kale from a plant, a Seed Maker can be used to create between 1 and 3 additional Kale seeds. This method allows players to multiply their Kale crop supply, especially if they are already growing Kale and want to expand their farming operations for future seasons.

Growing Kale

Kale is a versatile crop in Stardew Valley that grows from Kale Seeds, which can be planted during the Spring season. The growing process begins with tilling the soil using a hoe, which prepares the land for planting. Once the soil is tilled, Kale Seeds are placed in the prepared spots. After planting, it’s crucial to water the seeds daily to ensure they grow properly.

Kale takes a total of 6 days to mature. The growth stages are divided into intervals: the first stage takes 1 day, the second and third stages take 2 days each, and the final stage takes 1 day to complete. Once the Kale has gone through all these stages, it will be fully grown and ready to harvest.

The growth time of Kale can be shortened by using fertilizers. Speed-Gro is a fertilizer that reduces the growth time of Kale by 10%, while Deluxe Speed-Gro provides a more significant reduction of 25%. These fertilizers can help speed up the farming process, allowing for quicker harvests and more efficient use of farm space. Additionally, players can use Basic Fertilizer or Quality Fertilizer to improve the overall quality of the Kale. Using these fertilizers increases the chances of obtaining higher-quality crops, which can be more profitable when sold or used in cooking recipes.

To protect your Kale from crows, it’s a good idea to place Scarecrows nearby. Crows can occasionally eat crops, leading to lost yields, but Scarecrows will help keep them away, ensuring that your Kale plants can grow without interruption. When the Kale is ready for harvesting, it is harvested using a scythe. This tool is ideal for cutting the plant, and once harvested, the Kale does not regrow. Unlike some crops that continue to yield after being harvested, Kale must be replanted from seeds if you wish to grow more. This means that to maintain a steady supply of Kale, you will need to regularly replant Kale Seeds after each harvest.

Kale Properties

Kale is a crop in Stardew Valley that is exclusively grown during the Spring season. It requires a total of 6 days to reach maturity after planting. The growth process is divided into four stages: the first stage takes 1 day, the second and third stages each take 2 days, and the final stage takes 1 day to complete. Once the Kale reaches its final stage of growth, it is ready to be harvested.

After harvesting, the base sell price for a regular quality Kale is 110 gold. If you harvest Kale of higher quality, the price increases: silver quality Kale is worth 137 gold, gold quality Kale sells for 165 gold, and iridium quality Kale can be sold for 220 gold.

If you have chosen the Tiller Profession, your crops, including Kale, will be worth 10% more. This means that with the Tiller Profession, you will earn slightly more gold for each Kale you harvest, which can help increase your overall profits. Kale can also be consumed for its energy and health benefits. A regular quality Kale restores 50 energy and 22 health.

If you consume a higher-quality Kale, the energy and health restoration increases: silver quality Kale restores 140% of the regular energy and health values, gold quality Kale restores 180%, and iridium quality Kale provides a 260% increase in energy and health restoration. This makes Kale a valuable food source for replenishing your energy, especially when you’re out farming, fishing, or exploring the mines.

Each time you harvest Kale, you gain 17 Farming XP, which helps you level up your farming skill. However, Kale is not a multiple harvest crop, meaning it can only be harvested once per planting. After you harvest the Kale, the plant will not regrow, so you will need to replant Kale seeds if you want to continue growing this crop.

Additionally, Kale does not have a chance to grow into a giant crop like some other crops in the game, such as pumpkins or melons. You will receive only one Kale per harvest, regardless of the plant’s quality. Despite not being able to produce giant crops, Kale is still a reliable and profitable option, especially early in the game, as it provides a good balance of energy restoration, Farming XP, and gold.

Uses for Kale

Kale in Stardew Valley is a versatile crop that can be used in various ways beyond just selling it raw. When sold in its raw form, a regular quality Kale fetches a base price of 110 gold, but if you harvest Kale of higher quality, the sale price increases. Silver quality Kale can be sold for 137 gold, gold quality Kale for 165 gold, and iridium quality Kale for 220 gold, offering players a chance to earn more based on the quality of their crops.

However, Kale can also be processed into more profitable items like Kale Juice and Pickled Kale. Kale Juice is made by using Kale in a Keg and has a base sell price of 247 gold. With the Artisan Profession, this price increases by 40%, raising the selling price to 345 gold. Similarly, Pickled Kale is made by pickling Kale in a Preserve Jar and is worth 270 gold, or 378 gold if you have the Artisan Profession. These artisan goods are significantly more valuable than raw Kale, making them a more profitable choice for players who focus on artisan products.

Kale is also an essential ingredient in some recipes that restore energy and health. The Salmon Dinner, which requires 1 Kale, 1 Salmon, and 1 Amaranth, restores 125 energy and 56 health and can be sold for 300 gold. Stir Fry, another recipe that uses Kale, requires 1 Kale, 1 Common Mushroom, 1 Cave Carrot, and 1 Oil. Stir Fry restores 200 energy and 90 health and can be sold for 335 gold. These recipes are not only useful for restoring your energy during long days of farming, but they can also be a good source of income when sold.

In terms of gifting, Kale is liked by many of the villagers, but not all. Most villagers appreciate Kale, but it is not a favorite of Abigail, Haley, Jas, Sam, or Vincent. Despite being liked by many, Kale is considered a lower-value gift compared to other options, so while it can help improve relationships, it might not have the same impact as more expensive or highly loved items.

Kale also plays a role in the remixed Spring Crops Bundle in the Pantry. Players will need to include Kale as part of this bundle to complete the bundle and earn rewards. Additionally, Kale may occasionally be requested on the “Help Wanted” board outside Pierre’s General Store, starting in year 2. This request provides a reward of 330 gold and 150 friendship points when fulfilled, offering players a nice incentive to grow extra Kale for these tasks.

For those interested in tailoring, Kale can be used in the Sewing Machine with Cloth to create a dyeable Shirt and Belt, which will be dyed green. If players prefer a more direct approach to coloring their clothes, Kale can also be used as a green dye in the green dye pot at Emily’s and Haley’s house. This allows for more customization of clothing and adds an extra layer of creativity to the game. All these uses make Kale a valuable and multifaceted crop, contributing to farming, crafting, cooking, and even social interactions.

Profitability

Kale is a moderately profitable crop in Stardew Valley, though it is not the most lucrative option in the Spring season. The cost of Kale seeds is 70 gold when purchased from Pierre’s General Store or 87 gold from JojaMart. Once grown, regular quality Kale can be sold for 110 gold, while silver quality Kale sells for 137 gold, gold quality for 165 gold, and iridium quality for 220 gold.

When calculating profit from raw Kale, the profit per harvest is 40 gold for regular quality, 67 gold for silver quality, 95 gold for gold quality, and 150 gold for iridium quality. If the player has the Tiller Profession, the profit from raw Kale increases by 10%, resulting in 44 gold profit for regular quality, 74 gold for silver quality, 104 gold for gold quality, and 165 gold for iridium quality.

In addition to selling Kale raw, players can process Kale into Kale Juice or Pickled Kale for greater profit. Kale Juice is made using a Keg and has a base selling price of 247 gold, resulting in a 177 gold profit per harvest. If the player has the Artisan Profession, the selling price increases to 345 gold, leading to a 275 gold profit. Pickled Kale, made in a Preserve Jar, sells for 270 gold at base value, yielding a 200 gold profit per harvest, or 378 gold with the Artisan Profession, which results in a 308 gold profit.

Over the course of a Spring season, players can harvest Kale a total of 4 times without fertilizers. The total profit from raw Kale would amount to 352 gold without the Tiller Profession, or 414 gold with the Tiller Profession. Kale Juice provides a higher profit, with 708 gold in total profit during a single Spring season, or 1,096 gold with the Artisan Profession. Pickled Kale is even more profitable, yielding 800 gold without the Artisan Profession or 1,232 gold with it.

While Kale is profitable, other crops such as Potatoes and Strawberries typically yield higher profits. Using fertilizers like Speed-Gro or Deluxe Speed-Gro can increase the number of harvests per season, thus boosting Kale’s overall profitability. Among all options, pickling Kale is generally the most profitable method, followed by Kale Juice, while selling raw Kale is the least profitable. These calculations are based on a single plant, and players should multiply the profits by the number of Kale crops they grow to estimate their total seasonal profit.

Conclusion

Kale is a solid crop to grow in Spring, especially for players in the early stages of the game. While it may not be the most profitable crop, it offers a steady source of income, particularly when processed into artisan goods. Kale seeds are accessible, costing 70 gold at Pierre’s General Store, making it an affordable option for players early on. They can also be purchased at JojaMart for a slightly higher price, and there are occasional opportunities to buy them from the Traveling Cart, Night Market, or even find them in the Skull Cavern. Kale takes 6 days to mature and requires daily watering. It is a one-time harvest crop, meaning it does not regrow after being harvested.

While raw Kale can be sold for a modest profit, the real profit comes from processing it into Kale Juice or Pickled Kale. These artisan goods fetch a higher price, and the Artisan profession will further increase their value, with pickling generally proving to be the more profitable option compared to juicing. Kale is also used in recipes like Salmon Dinner and Stir Fry, although these dishes are not especially lucrative when sold. Most villagers like Kale, but it is not a highly valued gift, so it is not the best choice for improving relationships.

Kale may also appear on the “Help Wanted” board in Spring (year 2 and beyond), offering a reward of 330 gold and 150 friendship points. Additionally, it has a few uses in tailoring, such as being used as a green dye or to create dyeable clothing. While Kale is not the most profitable Spring crop, it can be a reliable option, particularly for those starting out.

It does not have a chance to become a giant crop, and it is not a multiple harvest crop. To maximize profits, players can use fertilizers like Speed-Gro or Deluxe Speed-Gro to increase the number of harvests within the season. However, crops like Potatoes and Strawberries are generally more profitable when compared to Kale. Ultimately, when deciding which crops to grow, it is important to consider all factors, including profitability, crop growth time, and potential uses.