Kale Brassica oleracea

Kale and collards are hardy biennials that will overwinter in milder climates, and improve in flavor with the onset of cold weather. Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked or start transplants 4 weeks before planting date. Sow early autumn plantings to avoid late winter frosts. Harvest full size leaves as desired. Start transplants 4 weeks before planting date.

PLANTING INFO:

Ideally, choose an area with full sun and rich, well drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. If the soil is too acidic, add lime. If the soil isn’t already rich, dig in compost or well-rotted manure. As you are growing kale for foliage, high nitrogen content is recommended.

For direct seeding, sow about 1 cm deep and about 30-45 cm apart. Three or four seeds can be planted together and thinned out at the two-leaf stage. If you ensure the soil doesn’t dry out, seeds should germinate in about 5-8 days.

DISEASES & PESTS: Kale and collards are subject to the same insect pests as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, but tend to be less preferred. Catepillars and aphids can be controlled by Bacillus thuringiensis (such as Dipel DF) are young; use row cover (make sure edges are sealed) repellant molasses and chilli sprays and hand picking griubs are also effective

Varieties

Red Russian
25 days babyleaf, 50 mature leaves Bright purple stems with slate green, deeply lobed foliage. Leaves are tender and smooth compared with other kales Perfect for salad mix or full size leaves. there are many sub-varieties of red russion

Spring Sweet – A selection of the red Russian type that is sweeter in the spring. Oak shaped leaves have less color than others.

Winter Red - A red Russian type developed by Tim Peters of Peters Seed and Research for good uniform color and cold tolerance. A tender salad kale that is said to have a little wild mustard in its sap. Works well in a crop scheme with other kales to supply harvests from early fall – spring. Napini from this variety is a month ahead darker red and thinner than other napus kales. A vigorous Red Russian kale that colors up well even before cold weather, but especially after cool weather. The oak-leaf shaped leaves of this kale are more deeply cut than some other common strains of Red Russian kale. Excellent for salad greens when leaves are thumb size; larger leaves make delicious and nutritious cooked greens. Origin: developed by Tim Peters, Peters Seed and Research, Riddle,

Greenpeace – 32 days. Rare Russian strain, greenish blue plants purple stems, highly variegated leaves. Origin: Greenpeace experimental farm on Denman Island off British Colombia.

White Russian
30 days babyleaf, 60 mature leaves Delicate, sweet flavor that improves in complexity with frost and light cooking. Tolerates wet soils better than any other kale and has the cold hardiness of the
toughest Russian.

Wild Red - 55 days. Variation on red Russian. 2 foot plants. Silver green foliage overlain with bright red on the stems and leaf joints. Extremely hardy and productive.

Western Front – This Red Russian kale mixture has survived a variety of growing conditions that killed all Scotch kales and over 90% of everything Russian or Siberian. Eating Quality is quite good. Up to 50% will regenerate from base of plants for up to 4 or 5 years in wild plantings

Lacinato/Nero Di Toscana/Cavelo Nero
30 days babyleaf, 60 mature leaves Also known as "Dinosaur Kale" due to its bumpy
leaf surface resembling dinosaur skin! This unique variety has the richest, darkest blue-green color of any kale. Deeply savoyed leaves are blade-shaped with smooth margins.

Siberian
30 days, 60 mature leaves Huge, blue-green leaves with white stems and an oak leaf shape. Its superior tenderness makes Siberian one of the best varieties for raw salad use and spring “napini”. Plants are extremely hardy and grow rapidly. Flavor is improved by light frost, but is exceptional anytime.

Scotch Borecole
Intensely curled dark green leaves. Plants to 60 cm.long harvest period. 55-65 days

Gulag Stars – A mix of Russian and Siberian kales from the original Gulag. Contains some completely unique leaf types and incredible colors. Same breat Brassica napus eating quality. Very adaptable and diverse population. Seems to have a bit of B. rapa mustard mixed into its genetic make up. Origin: Bred By Tim Peters at Peters Seed & Research in Riddle, Oregon

VATES BLUE CURLEDVigorous plant to 40cm high with heavily curled, blue-green leaves. Rich in vitamins. Withstands cold weather. Leaves will not yellow from frost or heat. 55 days.

DWARF BLUE CURLED

Heirloom. Heavily curled, light green leaves with bluish tinge & short, white stems. Hardy, low growing plant to 30cm. Pick whilst young for use in salads, or leave to mature for use like cabbage. Mature plants tolerate frost - light frost will improve flavour & sweetness. 50-60 days

Red Bor F1 Tightly frilled leaves of
deep purple and burgundy

Montly Natter

A bit late, so sorry to all whom have been waiting by their screens glued to the inbox....Ha.

April and March were both busy months for myself and family, unfortunately seed savers suffered as a consequence. I assume most people were the same, due to the lack of queries or complaints.

I do however hope you still managed a bit of gardening time, as March and April are the best gardening times for our region. Gone is the sting of summer and we can prepare our soils for the autumn, winter period. Our rain forecast over the next month looks good so put some good work into the soil and it will benefit.

We have on hand after our Feb meeting a large amount of seeds available, mostly thanks to Derek. At the next meeting we hope to sort and package some of this, so please make it if you can, the more hands the better. If you need anything from the list below please call out.

Yalca Fruit Trees 2009 catalogue is available to download now – all you have to do is click here (or, control and click) http://www.yalcafruittrees.com.au to get to our website - once there, you can click again, and download the catalogue, and order form.

You may have noticed an article in the Shepparton news Your Home magazine April. This starts a marketing push I’m about to start in local press. I will also be doing a couple of talks in the coming months to different groups; I will post details, for those interested. If you know of any group’s publications or newsletters I'm happy to contribute. And don't forget if your school is interested in a kitchen garden our group can help with a visit, seeds or a lesson.

The Queens Gardens markets will start up again and I'm looking for volunteers to share this with me on alternate months. (The market is the third weekend of each month) it’s a great social outlet & observations of people busying about make the early morning worthwhile. Please contact me if you are interested- I need someone for May.

Finally I just want to share with you some of the gems i have come across on the web over the last couple of months

If you haven't come across this catalogue before, please have a look its one of best and lovingly prepared i have seen. http://www.fedcoseeds.com/forms/sds31_cat.pdf

This is a beautiful wet pot, for those that haven't come across these, Wet pots are terracotta clay fired pots, buried beneath the soil level, filled and sealed to allow water to slowly seep out, and water the root zones of plants.

The new seed savers home page so take a look around http://www.seedsavers.net/

A herb spiral and keyhole garden combined with pond and flowform water feature, what a great permaculture approach. (right)

Even though they are hard to come by, with the popularity of raised vege patches in recycled tanks, this is another way or re-using them as a wall and raised garden bed.
(left)

This is a nature strip in Adelaide suburb, which has in conjunction with various groups and council have transformed their font lawns into a 1km walk through native habitat. This should be the norm, not an exception.

Seeds on offer - Carrot, parsnip, tatsoi, red Russian kale, grey kale (from VT), Italian parsley, Broad Beans, Snow Peas, Broccoli, odourless onion, White beetroot, chard,