Assorted Kale !!

[veggiechicken]

I need to do some serious weeding where I planted them to be certain but I can't see them at the mo. Glad I went to look though as the nearby Daubenton's was covered in caterpillars. Two broods, large and tiddly little ones. I removed some eggs from it a couple of weeks back! Hope that's not what has happened to yours, NG

[Guest]

Don't weed on my behalf, just let me know if you want replacements at any point and I can get some on the go

[veggiechicken]

50 Shades of Kale!

Its 26 actually but I thought 50 would catch your attention.



This little frilly one is Seaweed kale - for those who were interested. I've no idea what it tastes like but it would be good in a flower arrangement

[bario1]

I've only got 5 types this year - Reflex, Hungry Gap, Cavolo Nero, Shetland and Sugar Loaf.

[Guest]

I've only got 5 types this year - Reflex, Hungry Gap, Cavolo Nero, Shetland and Sugar Loaf.

I had to read that first variety twice.......reflux kale would probably not be a good seller

[veggiechicken]

My Daubenton kale grown from HSL seed is flowering.

[bario1]

Wow VC, isn't that supposed to be a rare occurence? Will you be seed saving (hint hint)?

[bario1]

And seeing as this thread's been resurrected, this year i've sown:

Cavolo Nero
Reflex
Thousand Head
Pentland Brig
Hungry Gap
Jagallo Nero
Red Russian

[veggiechicken]

Daubenton's kale flowering!


Does anyone know whether the flowers are white? Or if these leaves look right for Daubenton?
I'd like to be really sure that this is Daubenton! Grown from HSL seed 3 years ago.

As for seed saving, I have a few problems -
1. there's only one plant and apparently you need a pool of 29-25 brassicas to save seed - though how you guarantee that 25 seldom-flowerers are in flower at the same time I know not!

2. I have a couple more giant kales in flower - these are also about 3 years old. I wanted to let them cross and let them do their thing!



If I leave them, they'll cross with the Daubenton

Any advice from the Kale lovers?

[mothhawk]

Are you sure it's not white sprouting broccoli? I thought all kales had yellow flowers?

As an aside, the huge bag of kale seeds I saved from Red Russian last year I'm sprouting as salad cress, after noting on the pack of supermarket "cress" that it was rapeseed, not cress, not even mustard. Kale sprouts taste pretty much the same.

[Snoop Puss]

VC, did you like the Asturian Tree Cabbage? I've read through the thread and noticed that the second year you tried it, it didn't germinate.

[bussinspain]

Well done! I hope that would keep you self sufficient!

I kept meaning to buy some Nero di Toscana but haven't gotten round to it yet.

Nero is so easy. It grows really well here. I almost do successional sowings with it.

[bussinspain]

Pardon me here, but I thought that Red Russian and Ragged Jack were one and the same? I have ragged jack seeds from my father in law dating to back to 2012 (ish) and they are still viable.

[cristalfiona]

I have Curly Scarlet and Red Russian on the go at the moment for baby leaves, and I'll be sowing these two and cavolo nero in the next couple of weeks to overwinter.

I'd love to grow loads of varieties, but I think I'll probably have space to overwinter about 18-20 kale/PSB plants and due to some ill-planned reduced plant buying a few weeks ago I already have 12 PSB plants pretty much ready to go out...

[veggiechicken]

VC, did you like the Asturian Tree Cabbage? I've read through the thread and noticed that the second year you tried it, it didn't germinate.

Sorry Snoop, I don't remember It wasn't any more tree-like that the other tall kales so got lost!