KALE - BLACK TUSCAN

 Organic Kale Black Tuscan

        100 Seeds Pack    

Kale is one of the oldest forms of cabbage, native to the eastern Mediterranean or Asia Minor. It has been in cultivation for so long, dating back over 2000 years, and has been so spread across prehistoric traders and migrating tribes, that it’s hard to pinpoint the exact region of origin. Ancient Greeks and Romans grew both curly-leafed and flat-leafed varieties by the fourth century BCE, and these forms, which were referred to by the Romans as sabellian Kale, are considered to be the ancestors of modern Kale varieties. 

This kale is known by several common names including the popular ‘Cavalo Nero’, ‘Nero di Toscana’, the cultivar ‘Lacinato Kale’, Toscano Kale’, black cabbage, palm tree kale and dinosaur kale. It is a Borecole Heritage Variety, having been introduced pre- 1879. 

Black Tuscan Kale is a large kale with long strappy leaves, with potential to reach 60-90 cm tall. It mayt have a wide spread as each leaf may grow to 2-4 inches wide, with 30cm high leaves on long greenish-white stalks. The leaves have a bumpy or embossed surface texture and are dark blue-green in colour. When the leaves are harvested, or cut away from the base, the plant takes on a fan or palm like appearance giving it a prehistoric presence. Tuscan kale is chewier than Swiss chard, sweeter in taste than collard greens and milder in flavour than peppery mustard greens. 

    PLANTING & GROWING

Can grow in plant containers in your balcony garden or inside near a sunny window. If you don’t have a suitable garden spot, try a container instead.  A pot that’s at least 8 inches wide and it has drainage holes. Due to sensitive roots, repotting is best avoided. Instead, make sure you choose a suitable growing container for your seeds right from the start.

Soaking needs to be done at least a few hours before planting, and preferably overnight. To prevent damping off when starting seeds indoors, it’s essential that you disinfect all of your pots, plastic grow trays, seed cells, and seedling tray covers before you reuse them. 

Kale it is easy to grow throughout the winter months, their attractive leaves make them very useful in potagers. This hardy crop can provide nutritious leaves even in the depths of winter. Mature plants survive to -12°C (10°F) or below. Mark the site so you can find the fresh greens under the snow. 

Sow the seeds about 1.5cm (½in) deep in rows which are 22cm (9in) apart. Germination will take about 10 days. When the plant is about 22cm (9in) high and four leaves have developed (about 6 -8 weeks after sowing) transplant them to their final positions.

They should be planted slightly deeper than they grew in the seed bed. Spacings are 45cm (18in) apart with rows the same distance apart. Prefers well-drained, fertile soil high in organic matter, pH 6.0 to 7.5. Can tolerate slightly alkaline soil.  

Companion Planting: Beets, Celery, Cucumbers, Dill, Garlic, Hyssop, Lettuce, Mint, Nasturtium, Onions, Potatoes, Rosemary, Sage, Spinach, Swiss chard 

Cilantro is one of the best companion plants for kale because it attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on common pests like aphids. 

To help reduce disease, do not plant kale or other cole crops in the same location more than once every three or four years.