Kale (Black Russian)

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

Hi all

Finally recieved my scaffold 'debris netting' to go over my planned brassica bed today - holes small enough to stop cabbage whites getting in, hopefully it will work!?!?!  Ok, I have my kale plants (Borecole Nero Di Toscana - aka Black Russian) ready in pots - about 16 of them all about 6" tall ready to go out and my plan is to plant them in a bed and treat them as cut and come over the months when they are established.  Couple of questions:

Sapcing - what sort of spacing should I go for - are they particularly big plants?  I have around 1.5mx3m of bed for them (4.5ftx9ft).

Companion planting - I am thinking of putting leeks in the same bed (between Kale?) as they are supposed to be a good companion plant - anyone else done this? If so, did it work?  If I opt for this method I am thinking I can space the leeks faily close to the kale - does this sound ok or will the kale crowd the leeks out?

Netting - I am putting the debris netting over runs of blue water pipe.  In the bed I already have some swede and kohlrabi and plan to cover these with the net too.  However, I am unsure whether this will be detrimental to the kale -  the swedes and kohlrabi both have alot of tiny white flies around them - firstly, what are these? secondly, how can I get rid of them if it is indeed required?  I am wary of cabbage white invasion and dont want to compromise the kale.

I'd welcome and appreciate all feedback.  I am being careful here (overly so probably) as kale is one of the few crops I have for the winter and want to give myself a chance of success.  Thanks in advance.

Psi

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

[cornykev]

Hi PSI, I've sown My black kale direct and their only just coming through, I don't think I would companion plant them with leeks as they are different familys, but someone may come along with a different idea, I'm not sure what the spacing is probablyabout 12/15 inches. Hows the sun  8) in Clay hill.   ;D ;D ;D

[saddad]

The white flies are White fly... 
Unless you are prepared to spray then you probably won't shift them...
:)

[MetMan]

We grow "Russian kale" each year. Our plants at the moment are about one foot high and one foot round. They usually stand right into winter and end up much bigger plants,
We space them about 2 foot apart and harvest leaves as with normal kale.

Lovely steamed with some butter and black pepper.

[Kea]

I sowed some Russian Kale seeds on Sunday.....this morning three were up and i watered them and went away....five minutes later I looked at them and nearly the whole tray were up! How quick is that?! :o

[cornykev]

Same as you Kea, a few popped up, a good watering and the whole line seemed to appear over night, I read on real seeds that they sell this particular kale because the darker colour doesn't seem to attract the white fly, is what you have found Metman.     ???    :-\     ;D ;D ;D

[saddad]

Welcome to A4A Metman...  :)

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

thanks all - planning to get them in today and hope he white fly isnt an issue - well, will soon find out!  Kev, it is DRY at clay hill! Very DRY!  lots of watering!  Courgettes are cropping one a day tough!  Mini cucumbers and gherkins already too - encouraging signs!

[redimp]

Mine (Cavalo Nero, Red Russian, Dwarf Curly and my Ormskirk Savoy) all got fried in their seed trays.  Hoping to get some off ebay later.  Still have to scrub the white fly off them though.