Wild Garden Kale Genepool
Back for 2024! A widely varied population of Siberian-type kales (Brassica nappus) that gives you a glorious assortment for fall and winter meals, ornamental beds, and to save your own locally-adapted seed. This is not a mix, where we put a few separate varieties together in the packet. This is instead a very diverse genepool or grex, expressing most of the colors and shapes (as well as other, less obvious traits) possible for Siberian type kales. Some will look like Red Russian, some like White Russian, while some are deep purple. Some will be very frilly, some very curled, and some flat. this gives you the ability to choose your favorites and the best in your climate. Wide crosses like this are the first step to your own local landrace seeds. Open Source variety, OSSI pledged by the breeder, Frank Morton, who grew our seed. Photo by Hawthorn Farm. 60 days to full size. 80 seeds
Very cold-hardy winter standbys, whose flavor is sweetened by frost. Very easy to grow.
Like all brassicas, these like a soil with plenty of compost and some lime (pH 6.5 to 7.) Usually sown in trays or pots and transplanted when space opens up in the garden. Transplant after there are at least 6 leaves, and before they are pot-bound. Bury up to the base of the first leaves, firm well. If the weather is hot, dry, or windy, remove the bottom pair of leaves to minimize shock.
Siberian kales are extremely cold-hardy, surviving temperatures well below zero. Their flavor is best when sweetened by frost.
Collards are actually a non-heading, cabbage, with smooth, tender leaves and a mild flavor. They don't have to be used all at once like a head of cabbage; pick leaves as needed. They are a standby for meals all year. Many folks--like my mother--only survived the Great Depression because home-grown collards were available year-round. Traditionally served with bacon and a sprinkle of vinegar in the South. The Portuguese national dish is a stew of collards, sausage, and beans. I like them lightly cooked and served cold as a winter salad, too.
Tree Collards are a unique perennial hardy in zones 8-10. It doesn't usually make seed. It has seldom been commercially available, instead gifted from neighbor to neighbor as a "passalong plant," primarily in African-American gardens. We are grateful to all those generations of gardeners who preserved it for us.
Seed-saving: Lacinato kale and collards are the same species as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi--Brassica oleracea. Siberian kales are Brassica napus, like rutabagas. Turnips and Asian greens are another species, Brassica rapa. Texel greens are Brassica carinata. All varieties within the same species will cross with each other.