Can i eat/pick at them now?

[nilly71]

I'm new to all of this and bought some plug plants in the begining of August they were about 6" high, they included Brussels, Greens, Savoy cabbage, White and Purple sprouting brocoli, Primo cabbage, Cauliflower, curly kale and spinach(sam?, could not read all of the name)

I picked some spinach leaves the other day and they were yum :)

I have no idea what greens look like when fully grown, the savoy leaves are about 6"- 8" in size and the middle has started developing, the curly kales are about the same.

Can the leaves of the greens, savoy(look so inviting) and kale be picked now or do i have to wait for the plant to grow full size? We just want a few for Sunday dinners(next week), maybe one from each plant as i have about 12 plants of each. Will this damage the plants?

Neil

[nilly71]

[KathrynH]

Why not keep a few plants to take leaves from now as and when you want them but leave the others alone to develop? It's a shame to not enjoy them when you want them!

[kt.]

I have never grown Kale.  But I would leave the Savoy.  The outer leaves protect the head during its growth development from the cold frosts that will be due.  Worth the wait. ;)  Patience ;)

[ninnyscrops]

Be patient with both the kale and the savoy, they'll both come into their own later in the winter. Pick the outside leaves of the kale from mid November time as long as they look healthy and the stems are at least a foot high.

On a savoy note - why do all the little worms want to treat mine as a high rise flat in the winter  ???  :)

[nilly71]

Thanks.
They just look so nice i want to eat them all now ;D

The kale is about 12" or slightly more.

What abought the greens?

Neil

[artichoke]

My approach to kale (black nero and red bore) is to pick a few young leaves from each occasionally (not enough to slaughter each plant). The old ones won't be so nice. Did this for a plot neighbour the other day as she wanted to taste them to see if she wanted to grow some next year. I don't think she would have liked the old ones.

[Bean_Queen]

I have 3 types of kale: curly green, curly red, and black Tuscan kale (Cavolo de Nero).

I eat the outside or lower leaves first (they aren't at all tough or bitter) and leave the inside or the tops to keep growing.   Never decapitate your kale!

Strip out the stalk, and shred the leaves in stir fries, yum.


You can do this to "leafy" cabbages, but leave hearting cabbages to ... erm, heart up.

[nilly71]

Are leafy cabbages greens?

Neil