Curly Kale

[sewer rat]

I lost 300 odd cabbages to the pigeons this Spring but no savoys or winter cabbage were damaged. Also, slug / snail damage on the savoy and winter varieties was minimal.
As for my kale - 500 plants each of Redbor and Winterbor - no pigeon damage at all, no slug damage at all, been picking it for several months now and still have about 200 plants of each variety left. I also had Black Tuscan Kale, but although it has survived the bitter cold and the heavy frosts, it looks nowhere near as appetising now as it did in November. The curly kale varieties however, just seem to get better and better.

[Nes]

My curly kale were eaten really badly by the caterpillars in the summer last year (hadn't covered them with anything-duh!), and my son and I had to do a lot of caterpillaring. In spite of being completely stripped, they recovered and produced a great harvest that winter and early spring.
Sprouting broccoli are bearing the brunt of the caterpillars this year, in spite of fleece covering over the summer. Amazed at the resilience of the things. They have even survived the recent freezing conditions and have woken up again to continue munching!!

[porridgemaker]

I live in a farming area where the farmers grow turnips for their stock which means my brassicas tend to get plastered in white butterfly eggs and caterpillars, except my kale which last year was winterbore, squire and red russian, they would get the odd caterpillar, no prob with slugs. Just before winter the winterbor did get infested with aphids, which later dissapeared with the cold.

moira

[HayleyB]

Maybe I'll just give the Kale a go without mesh then, I was concerned as I think it grows tall and would be difficult to protect. I planted some seeds to use for winter salad but as they seem to be doing ok I have thought of leaving them in the pots and planting out when the frosts have gone. The thing I like is that it's cut and come again, loadsa greens

[SlugLobber]

but ... nothing is growing at the moment. Too cold, too dark. Don't give up. Sow it at the right time, and you might be surprised how good it is for eating in the dark days of December and Jan.

Sorry, only just seen this. It was sown last summer - can't remember the exact date, but it was the ONLY one that germinated. Hoping for better weather, this year!!!

[Two_Sheds]

Maybe I'll just give the Kale a go without mesh then, I was concerned as I think it grows tall and would be difficult to protect.

It grows no taller than sprouts or PSB ... mine are about 2 foot tall (it's windy here, so they may get a little taller in a sheltered position)

[Helen Johnson]

Cant grow cabbages ,Savoy my fave!!! or cauliflowers, but can do Kale. Grown from seed, the slugs dont seem to bother once theyre a few inches tall. Lots of caterpillars from summer into winter, didnt cover them, but picked and squished the blighters, green fingers indeed! Still cropping it now, tis great going to the lotty in the middle of the winter for fresh greens, and it tastes so good. Well worth it!!