Kale

[Jimmy S]

Hello All

I planted Nero di Toscana kale seeds last autumn but never planted out on the allotment. Its still in the tub out the back in the courtyard unprotected from elements and the plants look healthy. The reason for this post... is it worthwhile planting out on the allotment? All thoughts / ideas welcome

Thanks in advance

Jim

[Fleurisa]

How are the roots? Are they all tangled together or in separate pots?

[rustylady]

Where are you Jimmy? It's a bit of a strange time of year to plant stuff out. They won't do much growing till it warms up a bit, and then they may run straight to seed.

Worth a try though if you have plenty of room.

[mothhawk]

I'd wait till the ground warms up a bit in March/April (depending where you are). They'll be fine planted out, although as RL says, they may run to seed fairly quickly, (kale is biennial) but you should get some leaves before that. They won't be actively growing at the moment, so if you plant them out now, they won't grow on as they will in the warmer weather of spring.

[BertieFox]

I'd agree with Mothhawk that these Black Tuscany plants will clearly see themselves as into their second year and ready to flower and seed in the spring. Disturbing what will be a mature root system now in the tub and sticking them out will do no good as the roots will not grow much in the cold soil. The best you can count on are a few green shoots if you keep them will picked and avoid them going up to flower too soon. I don't find this type of kale really worth growing as a sprouting kale and it is far better grown as a summer and autumn crop when you can harvest the young leaves regularly as a very tasty green.

Incidentally, has anybody found kales generally difficult this year, as both our curly kales and some forager kales we are growing look badly affected by all the wet and in fact, a couple of the forager kale plants have rotted away at the roots and broken off. We are on very heavy clay soil though.

[Chippy Minton]

How big are they Jimmy? You could eat them

[Potstubsdustbins]

Bertie,

My curly kale stalled at the back end of last year, but funnily enough I noticed today its kicking off with new leaves showing.

Potty

[chriswimmer]

My motto is go for it. The seeds aren't going to do you any good in the pack. It's a good sign the first round is still going.

[Jimmy S]

Thank you for the replies, I think I will leave planting out the Kale as haven't got masses of space and concentrate on what am planting for this year.

Jim

[binley100]

I'm still picking from my cavalo nero........

[Bren In Pots]

I'm still picking from my cavalo nero........

Me too and by the looks of it I will be for the next couple of months.

[Chippy Minton]

Me too and by the looks of it I will be for the next couple of months.

Me three and for a while yet by the looks of things

[Mr Bones]

Me three and for a while yet by the looks of things

Same here. Cavolo slow but still growing and as fast as I pick the Daubentons it keeps sprouting back. Daubs is sprouting flowers too which make very good eating, close in flavour and texture to PSB