Perennial kale.

tippben · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 1:47 pm Post subject: Perennial kale.

Reading Darina Allen, she grows a plant called "Cottier's Kale", or "Hungry Gap Kale". It's perennial, and cut and come again. Apparently it is propagated by cuttings, so presumably sterile. Has anybody heard of this, or even better, got some? Two or three plants would suffice for us.

Blowin · Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 7:21 am Post subject:

Nothing on the Net under Cottiers - but I expect you'd tried that.

I did find mylittlevegetablegarden.blogspot.com/2010/...come-again-with-kale.html which reminded me of last year when, thinking my purple sprouting had run its course, I wrenched handfuls of the remaining foliage off and tossed them over the fence to the waiting cows. That got me in hot water with the catering manager so I left what was left and, within a few weeks, I had another crop that, if anything, was better than the first. I'm just wondering if 'Cottiers' is derived from 'cottagers' and may refer to a technique rather than a species? See what others come up with?

Blowin · Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 9:52 am Post subject:

PS - I've just found this under 'Hungry Gap Kale' but it does say that it's only biennial.

Belonging to the Mustard genus (Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) 'Hungry Gap'), Hungry Gap is a variety of Kale. This variety is a Vegetable that typically grows as an Biennial, which is defined as a plant that matures and completes its lifecycle over the course of two years. Hungry Gap is known for growing to a height of approximately 45.0 cm (1.46 feet).

Being a fairly low maintenance plant, Hungry Gap Kale is normally quite easy to grow provided a minimum level of care is given throughout the year. It will be helpful to note the correct soil, sun and water needs of this plant to ensure that this plant thrives.

tippben · Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 6:35 pm Post subject:

Ty Blowin. I'm sure it's derived from "Cottagers". Thanks for the species you found. We don't eat a lot of cabbage, so the longer one crop can stay in the same place, the better. Easier to feed than to rotate for us.

Blowin · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2015 7:21 am Post subject:

If you grow sprouts, don't forget the 'tops' - that little crown of small leaves at the top - make a delicious form of greens. Never eaten in this country as far as I can tell, but a regular in the UK as you may know.

Ado 2 · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2015 9:34 am Post subject:

I have a perennial cabbage plant passed onto me from a old man. It's great to be able to go out and get greens any time I want.

Good guy · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2015 11:16 pm Post subject:

Your own cabbage (and similar) this time of the year is just so good. I'm still eating bok choi, too.