Collecting kale seed

[Jonny.D]

Hi Guys,
Is it worth letting these dwarf kale continue growing so I can collect the seed?

There are 4 of them in a small raised bed

[Bren In Pots]

I've saved most seeds but not tried doing Kale ones but I've got this link saved with photos for when I do:-

Saving Seeds From Kale « Wood Ridge Homestead

it looks like one plant produces 100's of seeds.

[bario1]

I have read that you need a bigger 'genepool' than 4 plants if you want to save seed - 50 or even 100 plants. Is this true?

[VolesAteMyPeas]

I saved cavolo Nero seed from a neighbouring plot that had been abandoned. There were only about 8 plants and I had no way of controlling pollination by other flowering brassicas nearby. Having said that, I got millions of seeds which I am sowing now for the second year. As you'd expect, not all of them have come true but they are all definitely kale-like! Many look like cavolo nero, some look more like broccoli plants. Either way, the leaves taste great, they're incredibly hardy and when they start to bolt (now) , the buds taste as good as if not better than sprouting broccoli.
So I'd say go for it! My germination rate has been pretty much 100%. With that many you can always just grow on the seedlings that seem to have bred truest.

[bario1]

Mine are in a brassica cage - will I need to uncover them to allow pollinating insect access to the flowers?

[VolesAteMyPeas]

Yes. I think so.

[Jonny.D]

I'll let them grow on, collect the seed just to see what happens

[Scarlet]

I'd give it a go if you have the space. This is worth a read How To Save Your Own Seed at Home

[Scarlet]

I have read that you need a bigger 'genepool' than 4 plants if you want to save seed - 50 or even 100 plants. Is this true?

For home saved seed I think they advise 6 or more but 4 should be ok. To avoid cross pollination ensure you have no other brassica flowering nearby. On an allotment it would be an impossible task but a home garden should work ok.

[Jonny.D]

Can anyone identify these grey things?




... also does anyone know what has happened to this seed pod?



Looks like an odd white growth, a few other pods also have this growth

[Martin H]

Can anyone identify these grey things?

Thems are cabbage aphids.

I don't know what happend to the seed pod though.

[veggiechicken]

That's a coincidence - I've just found them on my kale too
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1351358

[Jonny.D]

Any tips on what to do with them? Some of the heavily infested pods I cut off

[Martin H]

Squidge them between your fingers. Don't lick your fingers afterwards.

[Jonny.D]

I've been using this brush that I cut down to get them off, it's hard enough to squish them in all the gaps they hide, but not hard enough to damage the plants