Not a true kale, but an excellent green that serves the same purpose. Very cold hardy and about as bullet proof as plants come.

Reply to this comment

First grow the plants as normal for food production and harvest as much as desired as long as the growth tips are not damaged. Because they are biennials (flowering usually starts in April for overwintered plants), they must be overwintered or dug and stored in a cooler or root cellar in extreme climates. This is usually done in sand or sawdust filled crates at 32-40 F and 90-95% humidity. Plants can be overwintered outside in almost any climate if a heavy mulch is applied. Digging and replanting the plants is always useful if you want to inspect the root system of each plant for selection purposes. Only save seed from top quality plants, and a culling percentage of over 50% is common and beneficial. It is wise to grow at least 10-50 plants to check for off types and to preserve the genetic diversity of the population.

The seed stalks are 3 feet tall or more and provide excellent forage for bees and beneficial insects. Harvest the seed pods after they have turned tan and dry. Cutting down the entire plant and letting it dry further for a day or two can be done when a large percentage of the seed pods are ripe. Thresh the pods by dancing or jumping on the plants placed on a tarp. Remove the bulk of the shattered plants and then winnow. Winnowing can be done in a breeze or with a fan in order to blow away the chaff and leave behind the seeds. Continue to dry the seeds out of direct sunlight on a flat well-ventilated pan, tarp or surface. When dry, store safe from insects and rodents in a dry cool location or in an airtight container if the seed is very dry.

Reply to this comment