Very small Nero kale again

[Marb67]

Well it's deja-vous again folks with my shrinking nero kale. There is no explanation as to why a perfectly healthy plant should diminish in size and girth but it does, like the previous year. Unfortunatley my garden has no direct sunlight the winter months so that might be a factor but having said that, my broccoli does ok. I have cut off some of the smaller leaves the to use in salad but they are now no replenishing due to cold although I thought brassicas grow throug the winter. My purple broccoli next to them is in better shape and usually they get bigger in spring. The nero on the other hand always seems to shrink.

Get an allotment you may say ? Well there is an 18 year waiting list for one and we can't afford a house with a bigger garden so stuck with this limitation

[Alison]

Even things that are very hardy barely grow in the depth of winter, there is insufficient light even in open ground, let alone if there is no sunlight, hence even less. I planted my kale out in June and have only harvested once or twice as I want most of the leaves in place for after Christmas. If I picked them in late autumn / early winter it wouldn't have chance to replenish. I'm guessing you've not tried to harvest your PSB so that's not been knocked back so not surprised it is doing better - even light pickings have an effect. Finally, there are much hardier kales than that, I find it less vigorous than many. Maybe try a different variety and compare.

[Penellype]

It has been unusually cold this year. My brokali, which was starting to form a flower head in mid November last year still hasn't anything visible, although it is growing slowly. I think several of the crops that would normally have been getting bigger in November have been knocked back by the early cold.

I agree with Alison though - if that variety persistently fails, try a different one that is labelled as hardy. Shady gardens take a lot longer to warm up after cold than sunny ones, and with several consecutive cold nights, the temperature tends to get lower and lower.

[Marb67]

Sorry, I forgot to add the image

[Greenleaves]

Looks like pigeons have had your Kale Marb

[greenishfing]

If I want big strong healthy brassicas I allow a minimum of 3 feet/1 metre between them. Mine were that far apart and that size in their nursery bed back in the Summer. I'd plant less but allow the plants far more space.

[veggiechicken]

Why have you cut off nearly every leaf, Marb?
Plants need leaves to grow. Take them off and they have no chance. I think you're cropping them too hard.

[Bigmallly]

I'll take a pic of mine tomorrow Marb & we will see if we can compare notes to identify any problems.

[Marb67]

No pigeons and I haven't cut them all off. They are just slow to grow. The only ones I cut off are the yellowing and caterpillar eaten. Some leaves also harvested. No point in growing them if you are not to take some of the leaves. I also can't space them further apart as I have limited space.

[Alison]

No point in growing them if you are not to take some of the leaves. I also can't space them further apart as I have limited space.

Two things. Firstly, it depends when you want to eat the leaves, as I said earlier, I leave them on when small so the plants can develop and it means not having any to start with but loads later. Secondly, space is always an issue but sometimes you get a lot more crop from less plants that are better spaced. More does not always mean more

[bario1]

For the last few years I haven't even harvested from my Cavolo Nero kale, despite growing plenty of plants, as it's my absolute favourite in terms of taste and texture. For some reason the plants have never been vigorous enough to provide a decent harvest, despite the fact that various other types of kale (Pentland Brig, Reflex) have grown strongly and provided lots of usable leaves for months on end. It galls me to have to buy it, but mine is never anywhere near as large, soft, dark, and bubbly as the supermarket stuff - what's the secret?
Marb - I would give it up and grow a different type of kale tbh.

[Bigmallly]

I'll take a pic of mine tomorrow Marb & we will see if we can compare notes to identify any problems.

As promised:
These were planted out in October in a bed comprising of home made compost & well rotted manure. They were immediately covered with a Debris net cage. They are only about 1ft tall & no pickings have been made.

[Snadger]

Just a thought...............but maybe if you sowed them a tad earlier you would get bigger healthier plants?

[veggiechicken]

Just a reminder of previous threads http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ter_82544.html

[Alison]

Just a reminder of previous threads http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ter_82544.html

Looks like very similar advice a couple of years ago too