400 Seeds

Brassica oleracea acephala
Nutritious baby leaf
Has very attractive unusual, dark green, wrinkled leaves. Easy to grow, for baby leaf or mature winter plants. Excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A and can be eaten raw or cooked. It has great winter hardiness and is perfect for mixed salads due to its texture.

Easy to grow, for baby leaf or mature winter plants. Unusual dark wrinkled leaves, can be eaten raw or cooked. Excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A. Recommended by Jekka McVicar in BBC Gardeners World Magazine (January 2015 edition): This kale is a brilliant winter/spring vegetable, when there is little fresh produce in the garden. It withstands the vagaries of winter weather and looks stunning, with its attractive, dark-green leaves."

Outdoors: sow thinly April-September, in a seed bed, 1.5cm (?") deep, directly into finely-prepared, well-cultivated, moist, fertile soil. Allow 30cm (1') between rows. Seedlings usually appear in 14-28 days.

Thin to 45cm (18") apart. No thinning is necessary if only baby leaves are required. Keep moist. Regular sowings, made every two to three weeks, will ensure a continuous supply. Harvest baby leaves from June. Or sow indoors, March-May, 0.5cm (?") deep, in a tray of compost. Keep warm and moist. A temperature of 15?C (60?F) is ideal.

Transplant 5cm (2") apart to other trays, when large enough to handle. Gradually accustom young plants to outside conditions (avoid frosts) before planting out, 45cm (18") apart, during May-June, into well-cultivated, fertile soil. Harvest mature plants from September to March.