Kitchen Garden Forum

This kale sounds like fun - another one for me to remember for when I retire and have more time.

Whitefly IS a nuissance, but I usually just bring the stuff home and soak it in salted water. Whitefly down the drain or into the compost heap [better].

mike

Never throw anything away.

I've been picking mine for a while, on a cut & come again basis. At the moment, most plants are only growing very slowly - here's a shot after I picked the big leaves at the weekend:


For those of you who have grown it before, what can we expect when things start warming up?
- Another month of so of leaves to pick?
- Or do the plants start to bolt, ending the harvest?


Colin

Jamie Oliver, Sarah Raven and Chris Evans all have good recipes for this on their respective websites. We tried the Jamie one tonight, with a little cabbage added in for variety - lovely!

Colin
What I do when it starts going to seed is what I do with all other kales: eat the main head before the flowers open, then any side flowers it puts out - just as good as the leaves and great in stir fry.

Alan

alan refail wrote:Colin
What I do when it starts going to seed ....

Thanks Alan - when do you reckon Cavolo Nero will start going to seed? Do you think I'll get many more leaves off it this year before that starts to happen?


Colin

My allotment is plagued by pigeons but they don't touch the leaves of Caveolo Nero. They do however love the tender shoots produced in the early spring!

I grew it in England and my kids love it as 'crispy seaweed' al la Sarah Raven, deep fried with sugar,salt & nutmeg. I will be ordering some seed soon.

Berlioz wrote:I will be ordering some seed soon.

Would you (or anyone else) like some? I have some available - see Seed Swap section for this & others.


Colin

Thanks for the offer Colin but I just found an unopened packet I had forgotten I had. (I'm a bit of a 'seedaholic' and also have a bad memory)