Kale

Now that we have vegetables flown in from far flung corners of the world the concept of seasonal food has all but disappeared for us. Tremendously hardy, defying anything that winter can possibly conjure up, Kale "Hungry Gap" is there when you need it.

The thing I love about kale the most is not its superfood qualities, its lovely bright green leaves or the sweet cabbagey taste. I love kale simply because it is there when I need it. Kale Kapral is a medium early variety. Tremendously hardy, it will defy anything that winter can conjure up.

Kale 'Red Ruble' is a red, Russian-type kale that has been specially bred for the salad leaf market. Its beautiful wine-red serrated foliage makes a quick growing colourful tasty salad leaf. Grown year-round on a windowsill and picked young and small, they can be added to lettuces to make your own mesclun mix.

With deeply cut, slate green oak-like leaves ‘Red Russian’ is one of the tenderest and sweetest kales available. Sow under cover in autumn for baby leaves after four to six weeks, or directly outdoors for over-wintering. This hardy crop can provide nutritious leaves even in the depths of winter.

Some years ago, we knew kale as a hearty winter meal, suddenly its popularity soared and ‘Kale Madness’ erupted. Now available in all manner of shapes, sizes and colours. 'Scarlet Curled' Kale is a highly attractive and ultra-hardy variety, the leaves intensify in colour turning to violet-red after a few frosts.

Kale 'Thousand Head' is a plain-leaved variety which is extremely reliable and prolific. It is particularly winter hardy and consequently a popular product with growers in northern areas. There is none of the heartache of seeing all one’s hard work destroyed by a sharp and prolonged frost.

'Dwarf Green Curled' is a compact, hardy and easy to grow kale. It produces an abundance of tender and delicate, densely curled green leaves which can be harvested throughout the winter months. Kale is one of the least problematic crops, it will tolerate conditions that would make most brassicas keel over!

Kale 'Black Magic' is an improved Italian Black Kale, bred to be more tender with better flavour. The winter hardy plants more cold tolerant, vigorous and slower-to-bolt than other Italian kales. They form an easy-to-harvest rosette of very dark, savoyed leaves with a flavour that is rich and mild.

'Jagallo Nero' is a cut leaf form of Cavolo Nero, the more familiar Italian black cabbage. The deeply indented, blue-grey leaves combine a delicate cabbage flavour with a crunchy texture. Suitable for baby salad leaf and ideal for winter salads.

Until recently Cavolo Nero, or 'Tuscan Kale', was one of Italy's best kept secrets. Simply adored, especially in the north of Italy, it has been an essential fare of traditional dishes for centuries. Cavolo Nero can now be found in garden markets, specialist greengrocers and trendy restaurants throughout Europe.