Kale

[anthonyjb]

Hi all


Is it time to sow kale if so are easy to grow

Thanks

Anthonyjb

[Scarlet]

I usually start mine off in March. I think they are an easy crop to grow, very hardy. I sow singularly in modules and pot on before hardening off and planting out. The caterpillars and the pigeons love them so they really needed to be netted.
I'm not too keen on the dwarf varieties.

[Shadylane]

I'm waiting until next month for kale. You could sow it now, then sow some more next month.

[Alison]

Depends when you want to eat it. I use it over winter so don't sow until the end of April

[KevinM67]

Depends when you want to eat it. I use it over winter so don't sow until the end of April

I'm the same.

As far as 'seasonal growing' is concerned - it's on my Winter list, therefore I normally concentrate on other stuff before them and it's good to have something in the ground during the 'barren' months.

[Kristen]

I'm the same.

As far as 'seasonal growing' is concerned - it's on my Winter list

Mine too - I resent the space that Summer Brassicas take up, so only grow Winter Brassicas - although typing that I now realised that I do grow Cauliflowers in Summer!

[arpoet]

As i will only eat kale when the frost has sweetened it, i tend to sow later in modules when i have space on the greenhouse bench. When the plants are well established i plant them in-between the runner bean rows. I have done this for years. I will be having a boiling tomorrow with enough left to last until Easter.

[Scarlet]

I eat it pretty much all year round, it's not just a winter veg for me. The same with purple sprouting, I sow some in early Feb for a late Summer/early Autumn crop. My kids would prefer greens on their plate to squash and courgettes.

[Alison]

Too many beans, peas etc and salad stuffs in summer so brassicas would just go to waste for me and I find they stand better when it's cold without risk of bolting.

[Scarlet]

There's no way I'd pod peas for hungry kids! I'd be there for ever...and sporty boys get very hungry on salad.
I've never had kale bolt.

[Shadylane]

With peas, you want to sit outside on the patio, on a lovely summers day, podding while sipping a glass of sauvignon blanc. Or get the kids to do it.

As for kale, mines bolting now. Sowed it oo early. Doh!

[Alison]

I don't mind when my kale bolts in the following spring as I eat the shoots but I don't want it to do that before it becomes a mature plant.

[Inastate]

Does anybody know how to stop kale being weedy? I planted mine a bit late in winter, so it hasn't grown much. It's pretty weedy though, as was the stuff i grew last spring, and I don't fancy a repeat performance.

[Alison]

I'm guessing the fact that you planted it a bit late is the key, mine is usually planted out in June so us a decent size by winter and then stands well, only growing very slowly in the cold conditions. If it was only teeny then I'd have nothing to eat.

[Scarlet]

What variety did you sow Inastate?