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Brassica oleracea var. palmifolia

Palm kale

Common names: Black kale, Tuscan kale, Cavolo Nero

Palm kale

Photo: Raffi Kojian · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

This description was machine-translated.

Description

Palm kale (Brassica oleracea var. palmifolia) does not form a head but produces long stems with dark‑green, fan‑shaped leaves that resemble a small palm. It is extremely winter‑hardy and tastes best after the first frosts, mild, slightly nutty and buttery tender.

Care instructions

Plant after May in humus‑rich soil. Harvest leaves continuously from the bottom up; the plant will keep growing for weeks. Leave it in place through winter, frost sweetens and softens the leaves. Water regularly during dry summers to prevent young leaves from becoming tough.

Soil & site

Soil pH

4.0pH 6.5–7.58.0

Soil type

loamy, humus-rich, well-drained, nutrient-rich

LightFull sun
HardinessHardy with protection
Crop rotationBrassicas
Water needMedium

Feeding

Heavy feeder

Companion planting

Good neighbors

legume family (Fabaceae)

particularly well established

Leguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.

For example Bush beanPole beanBroad beanMarker peaSugar peaRed bean and 30 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

carrot family (Apiaceae)

You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.

For example Carrotcelery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCoriander and 19 more species in the catalogue

Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice

mint family (Lamiaceae)

You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.

For example LavenderThymeBasilRosemarySageHyssop and 31 more species in the catalogue

Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice

nasturtium family (Tropaeolaceae)

Nasturtium serves as a trap plant for you. Aphids and cabbage whiteflies prefer it over the brassicaceae next to it.

For example Tropaeolum majusMashua

Source: Trap plant practice in organic horticulture

Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.

Some of these explanations were machine-translated.

Diseases & pests

2 relevant

From the knowledge base, automatically linked by affected species. How to spot and prevent them is covered in full in the lexicon.

PesthighApr–Sep
Cabbage fly

Delia radicum

The cabbage fly lays its eggs at the root collar of crucifers, and the white maggots feed on the roots and root collars.

More on Cabbage fly
PesthighMay–Sep
Large White

Pieris brassicae

The Large White is the striking white moth whose yellow and black caterpillars can devour cabbage plants down to the leaf veins in a short time.

More on Large White

Notes from real gardens

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