Is it too late to sow some kale for a spring harvest? Had to cut my plants down due to cabbage white (brain of Britain forgot to cover them). I am fully aware that eating holes is non fattening but I grew them and I didn't particularly want to share.
It is not too late to sow them..but I'm not sure how big the plants will get before the winter set in. Perharps growing some in more protected environment at first to get them grow that little bit faster and transplanting outdoors as more mature plants would help them get on better as they will need some more 'mature' hardiers growth on them to able to overwinter successfully..soft new growth might not make it if we should get 'proper' winter.
Or if you have room..sow and grow some more 'protective way' and another lot outdoors and if one or other don't seem to be success..just eat them away to give space for another lot.. ;) ;D
h thanks. Sme some seeds so will give it a try - nothing ventured nothing gained.
If you'd left them, they'd probably have recovered from the caterpillars.
Can kale be treat as a cut & come again or would it not re-grow if full head cut.
It's my first year growing kale & it has been very productive so far :)
Debs
You can use it 'cut and come again' in a fashion. Just harvest individual leaves from each plant but ensure that you always leave few on plant and the growing point(s) intact..the kale just keep growing and producing more.
I recently plated some Kale plants that will be treated as cut and come again. I have been told that they will be ok over the winter period as long as they have some protection if needed. I plan on harvesting a few leaves from each plant when they are ready so hopefully will have lots to harvest from a few plants.
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Kale is quite touch cookie. I do not protect mine from the weather. However, the caterpillars, rabbits, pigeons, muntjac,slugs etc are a different matter. I find snow can knock them over and can cause problems with any protection.
I like the russian kale, I find that particularly winter hardy,
Just finished a bowl of home made veg soup added 2 tins of cannelini beans and some finely shredded kale during last 5 mins of cooking
Was very yummy for a basic simple meal :P
Debs x
I always take a few leaves from each kale plant rather than pick all from one at once. I've just stuck a late sowing in, if all else fails I should get some young leaves. Not sure I'm going to get any PSB next year though :(