Brassica oleracea Seeds | Kale Zhongs
LATIN NAME: Brassica oleracea
COMMON NAME: Kale
Plant Profile
Brassica oleracea, commonly known as Kale, is a hardy, upright, biennial in the cabbage family. Kale holds its blue-grey, frilled leaves in winter row, and the whole plant stands in the neat, ruffled heads. It is a plant of open, sunny, deep, moist, rich ground. During flowering it gives bees and other insects a dependable food source. Add these qualities together and you have a species well worth a place in the garden.
Science & Biotechnology
Like other members of the cabbage family, Brassica oleracea draws steady attention from botanists and plant breeders, who value the genus both as a subject of research and as a source of garden-worthy material. Little about its garden performance is mysterious; it has been grown and observed for a very long time.
Uses & Benefits
Kale brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Kale is a fine, steady plant of winter kitchen garden. It is a fine, steady plant of open, sunny, deep, moist, rich garden. Sow in late summer for winter row, and frilled leaves will hold through the frosts. Once it has its roots down, it more or less looks after itself.
The cabbage family is the cornerstone of cancer-prevention nutrition research: glucosinolates in broccoli, kale, mustard and their kin convert to sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol, compounds studied intensively for their role in cellular defense. Few plant groups have stronger evidence as everyday functional foods.
Growing from Seed
Seed is the natural starting point for Kale, and the process is uncomplicated. Broadcast the seed thinly over a fine, free-draining compost, sieve a little more compost on top, and water with a fine rose. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
Once established, Kale largely looks after itself. Keep the sowing evenly moist at the start — that is the one real requirement.
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