Collecting kale seed

**Bren In Pots** · 17-04-2015, 02:24 PM

I've saved most seeds but not tried doing Kale ones but I've got this link saved with photos for when I do:-

Saving Seeds From Kale � Wood Ridge Homestead

it looks like one plant produces 100's of seeds.

**bario1** · 17-04-2015, 03:02 PM

I have read that you need a bigger 'genepool' than 4 plants if you want to save seed - 50 or even 100 plants. Is this true?

**VolesAteMyPeas** · 18-04-2015, 07:07 PM

I saved cavolo Nero seed from a neighbouring plot that had been abandoned. There were only about 8 plants and I had no way of controlling pollination by other flowering brassicas nearby. Having said that, I got millions of seeds which I am sowing now for the second year. As you'd expect, not all of them have come true but they are all definitely kale-like! Many look like cavolo nero, some look more like broccoli plants. Either way, the leaves taste great, they're incredibly hardy and when they start to bolt (now) , the buds taste as good as if not better than sprouting broccoli.
So I'd say go for it! My germination rate has been pretty much 100%. With that many you can always just grow on the seedlings that seem to have bred truest.

**bario1** · 19-04-2015, 07:40 AM

Mine are in a brassica cage - will I need to uncover them to allow pollinating insect access to the flowers?

**VolesAteMyPeas** · 19-04-2015, 08:19 AM

Yes. I think so.

**Jonny.D** · 19-04-2015, 08:28 PM

I'll let them grow on, collect the seed just to see what happens

**Scarlet** · 19-04-2015, 08:35 PM

I'd give it a go if you have the space. This is worth a read How To Save Your Own Seed at Home

**Scarlet** · 19-04-2015, 08:39 PM

Originally posted by bario1 View Post

I have read that you need a bigger 'genepool' than 4 plants if you want to save seed - 50 or even 100 plants. Is this true?

For home saved seed I think they advise 6 or more but 4 should be ok. To avoid cross pollination ensure you have no other brassica flowering nearby. On an allotment it would be an impossible task but a home garden should work ok.

**Jonny.D** · 08-06-2015, 07:16 PM

Can anyone identify these grey things?

... also does anyone know what has happened to this seed pod?

Looks like an odd white growth, a few other pods also have this growth

**Martin H** · 08-06-2015, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by Jonny.D View Post

Can anyone identify these grey things?

Thems are cabbage aphids.

I don't know what happend to the seed pod though.

**veggiechicken** · 08-06-2015, 07:26 PM

That's a coincidence - I've just found them on my kale too

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1351358

**Jonny.D** · 08-06-2015, 07:38 PM

Any tips on what to do with them? Some of the heavily infested pods I cut off

**Martin H** · 08-06-2015, 07:44 PM

Squidge them between your fingers. Don't lick your fingers afterwards.

**Jonny.D** · 17-06-2015, 03:44 PM

I've been using this brush that I cut down to get them off, it's hard enough to squish them in all the gaps they hide, but not hard enough to damage the plants

Announcement

Collecting kale seed

Collecting kale seed

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Latest Topics

Recent Blog Posts