Daubenton's Kale

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've just had this from the HSL, about the strain they're offering. I'm definitely going to get it, in case it's different from the three varieties I know about already. If nothing else, it's presumably been selected to some extent for seed bearing.

The Daubenton kale is, indeed, the kale that you mention. The information below are references we have found to this old, perennial variety:

"Daubention's Kale – Xerox is from J. W. Boyce's 1986 catalogue [in file] – the name was subsequently changed to Daubenton, but the variety has since been dropped.  

Daubenton's Creeping Borecole. Stalks 4 or 5 feet in height or length. The leaves are nearly 2 feet long, deep green; the leaf stems are long and flexible. It sometimes takes root where the stem rests upon the surface of the ground, and, on this account has been called perennial. The variety is hardy, and yields abundantly; though, in this last respect, it is inferior to the Thousand-Headed.
Fearing Burr: Field and garden vegetables of America, 1865, p.225

Allied to the Buda kale is the Perennial Daubenton Kale, a kind of Colza with an almost woody and branching stem, which continues to grow for 4 or 5 years, some only of the branches flowering every year, while the rest go on growing and producing leaves. Of all the cultivated cabbages, this one comes nearest to the wild cabbage of the sea coasts of Western Europe, one of the distinctive characteristics of which is that it produces flowers only at the extremities of some of the branches, the rest of the plant continuing to increase in size, while other branches are preparing to come into flower in the following year.
Vilmorin-Andrieux: The vegetable garden, p.141-142


Dorbenton Kale – We are pleased to supply this very old variety of Kale that was previously thought to grow only from Cuttings.  One row will give you a canopy three feet wide of delicious tasty young green shoots during the winter.  
Catalogue of J. W. Boyce, 1986

The names Daubenton, Daubenton's and Dorbenton have all been used to describe this kale. We have never heard it described as sterile, though it is very difficult to get it to produce seed and vegetative propagation is the more usual way.

[Robert_Brenchley]

[Jeannine]

Help, my Daubenton is trying very hard to flower, I keep pulling off the flower shoots as I don't want to lose the plant, should I be doing this?

XX Jeannine

[Robert_Brenchley]

I left mine last year, hoping for seed. The flowers were barren, and the plant is still going strong.

[Toshofthe Wuffingas]

My variegated cutting is well rooted and thriving in a deep pot in a sunny greenhouse. I took the top off a couple of weeks back to make it bushier and the pruning is in a gritty compost with a clear plastic cup over it in a shady warm spot. It would be nice if that took. When I have a good netted spot on the allotment the rooted plant. will go there.