Walking stick kale is easy to grow by planting seeds directly in the garden as early as February or as late as July in most climates.  kale is a hardy plant that thrives in full sun or partial shade and nearly any type of well-drained soil. Thin the plants to a distance of 12 to 18 inches when the kale is a few inches tall. Be sure to toss the tender thinning in salads. You can also start seeds indoors, and then move the seedlings outdoors when they have two or three sets of true leaves (don’t count the tiny seedling leaves). Plant the seeds in celled trays or peat pots to minimize transplant stress.