Success with Calvalo Nero - Black Tuscan Kale

[Mole]

We have grown this for many years. Usually 2 crops one sown in april/may, and one sown in July/August.

This year however, my partner sowed some in modules in February, planted out in late March fairly close together in rows.

Last week she took the third substantial cut of leaves for the veg boxes. When harvesting, each plant is cut right back and left alone till the next cut. She anticipates at least one more good cut, but maybe more.

Mole

[mandylew]

I tried this last year, it was overcome with whitefly apart from which, I only found it grew taller and taller and i kept taking the leaves off as it grew, so should I have cut it off at the bottom? I planted them 18" apart like it said and they looked ridiculous long poles with leaves on top so far apart.

mandy

[helixdesign]

I've been wanting to grow this Kale for ages but never get round to sowing it. It is one of my favourite veg. I'm a bit scared of growing Brassicas. Do you need to cover it with netting and put collars around the base of the stems?

Helix

[Chantal]

I've failed with brassicas every year until (I hope) this year. I made some panels, as recommended by someone on this forum, covered with micromesh. My brassicas are completely protected, with loads of space to grow and are looking great so far.

Previously they were hammered by the birds, then the aphids and finally the cabbage whites. I've never put collars on mine and haven't this year - I probably should have done, but I'm hoping the cage will keep everything out.

[Malk]

I grew this last year, but didn't realise I could take a spring harvest from them and dug them up. Trying again this year though the slugs or voles have decided to attack my brassicas, they are covered from pigeons.

[GIULIA]

The good news is that Cavolo Nero isn't a true brassica and doesn't get clubroot, which is why we always grow it. We start early, the early crops always do the best, and then keep sowing a few more and potting them on to replace the ones we dig up, we seem to get away with this OK. We also grow Portugese kale 'Galega de Folhas Lisas' which I would thoroughly recommend! A big open huge-leaved thing about 3' tall which manages to smell and taste very savoury in the pot, the liquid off cooking it makes brilliant gravy and again its a good succession crop. We have one tunnel for pigeon-prone items which includes these two kales, the red russian one (excellent for colcannon mash) and calabrese, which seems to thrive in the company of the kales in a way it never does if its near to other brassica family members. You can get seed for the portugese one from Seeds of Italy and if you like your greens you should definitely give it a go.
(There's a wonderful cavolo nero, cheese and potato layer bake in Gennaro Contaldo's cook book 'Passione'which we make every year with the first fat Cav off the plot to celebrate.)