Crops to overwinter: Kale query

[Philthy]

And my second query tonight is about Kale

I've never grown it before, don't really know anything about it, but quite like it and am aware of it's reputed health benefits, sooo...

I like the idea of planting out in the autumn so as to have something harvestable during winter.
Does it keep growing during the depths of winter? Or rather is it left in situ during the cold months because it's a hassle free way of storing it?

Any suggestions for varieties? I have no basis for comparison so whatever is reliable and overwinters well I guess would be the criteria.

Many thanks.

[bario1]

Firstly, no, it doesn't really grow through the winter months, it just sits there, but it can cope with pretty much any cold weather thrown at it. I prefer to harvest odd leaves regularly through the Autumn while it's nice and tender rather than leaving it to stand... the lower leaves will only die and drop off if you don't eat them. If you get the plants big enough by late Autumn then you have a constant supply of greens through winter, although the new tender growth will slow right down, and the larger leaves will gradually become tougher and tattier as the season progresses. Then in Spring you get a sudden spurt of tender new growth before it flowers.

My favourites are Pentland Brig and Hungry Gap, they're slightly looser leafed than the regular curly kales, and seem to be less prone to whitefly. Hungry Gap will stay productive longer in Spring than any other variety.

[Bren In Pots]

I grow black Tuscan kale and find that 10 plants keeps us going through the winter right up until its time for my parsnips to to sown in that bed, any remaining kale I then cut and freeze to use in soups.

[Mr Bones]

Red Russian is one favourite for flavour (for us) and also produces masses of flower stems in spring, plus has the added advantage that pigeons tend to leave it alone. Most kale we grow needs to be well established by autumn to allow winter picking.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Don't leave it till Autumn to plant out. You won't get enough growth if you do that. You really need your plants to be mature by that time. I normally grow some of the Dwarff varieties. Suttons do "Dwarf green curled". The smaller plants don't get bashed about the same by the wind.

[SelkirkAlex]

kale has to be the original hardy veg.

I grow tuscan black and it stands happily through winter every year and takes off again in spring. the winter leaves get tough but fine in soups and stews until next years planting comes through

[Philthy]

Great info. and very helpful, thanks a lot guys I'm really keen to start some off this year. Any particular ground prep to do? I don't really grow brassicas. I've tried broccoli, and the odd cauliflower, but nothing serious or regular. My plot such as it is is semi-shaded and mostly grows beans..

I found this info. on a perennial variety:
"Taunton Deane kale (Brassica oleracea var Acephala) a very old variety of perennial kale that keeps growing for years giving a tasty supply of greens all year round. It is also known as cottager’s kale and would have been common in vegetable gardens up until Victorian times. Plants can grow more than two metres tall and wide and are very hardy. Being perennials they withstand pests very well, survive all kinds of weather and have a flourish of new growth each spring and summer. They are extremely nutritious as they have many years to accumulate minerals and have a great flavour and are tender enough to eat raw. Taunton Deane plants do slow down after about 5 years, so it is worth making cuttings every now and again to produce new stock"

Anybody grow/grown this one?
Given kale's hardiness, what happens if you remove all the flower shoots as they come through in spring when growing the aforementioned biennial(?) varieties; will they keep producing harvestable leaves through into summer and beyond?

[veggiechicken]

Lots of waffle about kale at https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ale_71170.html
Some photos towards the end.
I'm growing Red Russian in a bucket in the GH. Seems to be happy and is pickable now. When I need the GH space I'll plant them in the garden.