Brassica oleracea palmifolia
| Brassica oleracea | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Life Cycle: | Biennial |
| Height: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Late Summer |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Brassica oleracea palmifolia (common name: jersey kale)
Propagation: Seed - sow in a seedbed outdoors in April. Plant out in summer as space allows. Do not let the seedlings get overcrowded or they will soon become leggy and will not make such good plants. If your seedlings do get leggy, it is possible to plant them rather deeper into the soil - the buried stems will soon form roots and the plant will be better supported.
Cultivation: Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[1]. Prefers a heavy soil[2]. Succeeds in any reasonable soil. Succeeds in maritime gardens[1]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.3 to 8.3.
Jersey kale is a very tall-growing plant, usually reaching about 1.5 metres tall though it has been seen more than 5 metres tall[1]. The large leaves can be cooked as greens whilst the straight slender stems can be dried and used as walking sticks[1].
A good companion for celery and other aromatic plants since these seem to reduce insect predations[3][4]. Grows badly with potatoes, beet and onions[4]. Grows well with potatoes, beet and onions according to another report[5].
Range: A cultivated form of B. oleracea.
Habitat: Not known in the wild.
Edibility: Leaves - cooked. A strong cabbage flavour[K].
Usage: The long slender stems have been dried and used as walking sticks[1].
Pollinators: Bees
Habit: Biennial
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Simons, Arthur. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin, 1977.
- ↑ Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
- ↑ Allardice, Pamela. A-Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers, 1993.