Kitchen Garden Forum

I read somewhere to cut the head of the kale first and then the side shoots will grow, is this right?, ive been taking mine from the bottom and they are quite tall and leggy now.

by the way, (proud mum i have to keep mentioning it) check out my son Lewis' picture in this months kg letters page

mandy

If you are talking curly kale then no way.

Pick from round the bottom of the rosette and it will keep growing all winter.

Hi Mandy,
Kale tends to age round the edges before we all get to it generally due to the amount of other produce available so I generally hack these hoary old leaves off and add to compost and get to some more succulent ones and as Peter says just keep picking from the bottom.
I grow Pentland Brig which has the most wonderful side shoots that generally start to grow around February and if you allow these to mature until they send up a flower bud they are very similar to PS Broccoli and very tasty.
JB.

I've got curly kale and nero di toscana, so i'l just keep picking from the bottom then, thanks!

mandy