Curly Kale Harvesting

[MrsBond]

Hiya

I have read different advice regarding how to harvest my curly kale.

One says wait until the Autumn and take the new middle growth, then in early spring new growth will come along and be usable.

The other says to take leaves from the outside as soon as big enough.

I have dwarf green curled and tuscan black.

A definitive answer from anyone who has grown these would be fab.

Kind regards

MrsB x

[Flummery]

I'm eating the outside leaves of my Tuscan now. Last year I grew dwarf curled and also ate it from the outside in. That's only my experience, but the curly went on and on.

[MrsBond]

Thank you for that.

The dwarf green has been taunting me for ages now, it is so ready for my plate, but I didn't want to upset it.

Tuscan is a new one for me this year, but heard many good things about it.

Guess what I am having for dinner tonight

MrsB x

[MrsBond]

Ok....off the curly kale subject a little here.

I just went out to read the outer leaves their last rites as it is the dinner plate ending this evening, when I checked on my broccoli (ironman f1 autumn) and it has tiny heads forming already..about 1.5cm, but definitely visible. Very healthy looking plants, just wondering if they are coming a little too early, and should I do anything special with them.

MrsB x

[Snadger]

Both my tuscan kale and redbor kale are just at the tiny seedling stage at mo!
They will go in when the tatties come out and I'm going to try a few tuscan in pots in the greenhouse this winter!

[Demeter]

My kale are still tiny too! I need to prick them out this weekend into pots to grow on til the spuds come out!

[MrsBond]

My tuscan are tiny wee seedlings, just a week old, it is mainly the dwarf green curled at the moment, but thought I would ask about both so that I am prepared!

MrsB x

[Alice]

Mrs Bond, I believe the answer is take the young leaves - from the middle, the outside growth or wherever. The old leaves are unpalatable.