Shetland kale

[bario1]

I'll post up a pic later or tomorrow!

[bario1]

Here's a pic of the Shetland Kale as promised..

[veggiechicken]

Wow, that's enormous!! Big enough to shelter a Shetland pony from the rain.
Your kales look really healthy too, bario! Are they under netting to keep the flutterbys away?

[bario1]

Thanks VC, yes they are fully netted, I failed miserably with kale last year so I've given them the VIP treatment this year.

[sparrow100]

Mine are about the same size bario1, a couple more leaves on them and I will be taking a few for tasting purposes.

[sparrow100]

Well, I picked 8 leaves yesterday for dinner and can report they are very tasty. It's a bit more bitter than cavolo nero and the leaves are thicker. The ribs were also good - bitter and peppery without being fibrous, though that might be down to being young plants.

There's a bit more room in that bed now too!

[Nicos]

Good description! Might give them a go!

[sparrow100]

It so far doesn't look like it will take 2 years to head up. Mine looks like it is starting now:

[bario1]

My Shetland 'kale' now - looks more like a cabbage to me! Not sure when to pull this, haven't had any of the leaves and can't really face it sitting there for another year... beautiful colours though.

[sparrow100]

As a comparator, some of the heads on mine were as open as yours with dark leaves. But on the ones that were properly headed...just look at those stunning blanched leaves! They are just beautiful. Particularly set against the purple and dark green of the outer leaves.

[veggiechicken]

Its a real beauty! How tall are they?
Are there any sideshoots that you could use as cuttings? I've found that most of the big kales develop sideshoots which are easy to root in water.

[bario1]

Absolutely stunning Sparrow!

[sparrow100]

Its a real beauty! How tall are they?
Are there any sideshoots that you could use as cuttings? I've found that most of the big kales develop sideshoots which are easy to root in water.

They aren't tall - 18 inches or so? Weren't you growing them too?
As to sideshoots, I didn't see any. I should point out they are now ex-kale. Hoofed them out to make room for potatoes. Which I then didn't plant because the bed's still too wet....sigh.