Brassica

Common Name: Flowering Cabbage/Kale
Family: Brassicaceae
Native: Europe and Asia
Type: Annual or biennial
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Width: 2 to 3 feet
Light: full sun or partial shade
Soil: moist, well-drained, organic-rich soil with addition of some lime
Watering: Regular watering is recommended for best growth

Cultivation:
If you want to add some welcome color to your winter garden, you can't go wrong with ornamental kale. The foliage will be more vivid and attractive in cool weather and, as such, it is best planted in early fall to avoid the summer heat (even minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures will not harm it). They only improve with frost and cold weather, getting great, vivid colors below 50F.

Dwarf varieties grow in neat compact clusters that can reach 1-1/2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Their finely curled leaves are usually bluish green in color, and make for tasty garden greens when harvested. In cold climates, the plants often stop growing in late fall and resume in early spring.

Nondwarf varieties have loose, tall growth. Their leaves are less ornate than are those of dwarf kale ... and they tend to be a duller green. Because the plants are tall and lanky, however, with their leaves held well above the soil, they're better protected from intense groundlevel freezes than are the dwarfs.

It is best to sow the seeds directly into the garden, where they will grow. The exact timing for sowing and planting will depend on your local conditions. Sow your seeds about six to ten weeks before the first anticipated frost. Plant the seeds in rows, spaced 18 to 24 inches apart, allowing 6 inches between seeds. Cover the seeds with 1/8 inch of fine soil, and pack it lightly. Keep soil moderately moist during germination. The seeds will germinate and sprout in one or two weeks, depending upon weather and soil warmth. When the young plants are about 3 inches tall, thin them out, leaving the strongest and best plants.

Although they may be sown indoors at any time of the year, without cool temperatures they won't attain much color. For starting seeds indoors, I recommend that they be sown directly into a large 6-8 inch pot, to avoid the problems associated with transplanting. Once the seeds of ornamental cabbage are sown, place the flat or pot in the refrigerator for 3 days to expediate germination.

Propagation: Seed in early fall. They take anywhere from 60 to 120 days from seed to maturity, depending on air temperature and the particular cultivar. Plant the seeds at about 18 inches apart.

Pests and diseas:  Even though kale is extremely hardy and has a built-in resistance to clubroot - one of the cabbage clan's most unpleasant ailments - the leafy vegetable can be overrun with pests. So if you grow the plants strictly for ornamental use, it's best to keep in mind that the curly leaves will show damage less than plain ones.
First of all, try to raise your own plants from seed, or at least buy them from a local farm or nursery. If you do so, you can be reasonably sure your seedlings won't be infected before you plant them. Then see that your kale patch is rich in humus and properly drained. A healthy plant will have the best chance of defeating pests and diseases. Finally, practice yearly crop rotation to help insure that a pest or disease doesn't return more often than once in several years.

Species:
- dwarf: Dwarf Blue Scotch
- taller varieties: Pentland Brigg, Siberian, Westlad, Winter