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Gerald L. Klingaman
Brassicaceae
BRASSICA oleracea 'Sabellica'( Acephala Group)
German Kale, Grünkohl
The colorful, textural, tasty leaves of dwarf curly kale make it an outstanding plant for both the vegetable and the ornamental garden. Typically grown as an annual, this cool season vegetable traces its ancestry to Brassica oleracea, a fleshy-leaved, short-lived perennial from coastal areas of western and southern Europe.
This kale bears clusters of ruffled and crisped blue-green leaves that stay low and compact. In cool weather the foliage takes on deeper hues that may include hints of red-purple. Plants may dwindle in heat and sometimes bolt, becoming lanky and producing sprays of four-petaled lemon yellow flowers on tall stems. Plants that overwinter often bloom in spring.
Grow this kale in full to partial sun and fertile, organic-rich garden soil with ample drainage. Although tolerant of subfreezing temperatures, plants will perish in severe cold. Sow seeds in the chill of early spring, or in mid to late summer for a fall crop. Plants mature about 60 days after sowing, although the tender young leaves can be harvested earlier for salads. Often achieving their best flavor after frost, the relatively tough, pungently flavored mature leaves are best steamed or sauteed rather than raw. Hot weather and bolting cause leaves to become bitter.
This selection combines beautifully with asters, ornamental grasses and mums in the autumn garden. Overwintered plants make excellent companions for violas and early spring bulbs.
6 - 1
7 - 11
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun, Partial Sun
12"-15" / 30.5cm - 38.1cm
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Southern Europe, Western Europe, Mediterranean
Acidic, Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Salt
Fast
Average Water
Clump-Forming
Summer, Fall, Winter
Showy
Yellow
Brown
Blue Green, Gray Green
Yes
No
Single
Bold
Matte
Semi-Evergreen
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Butterflies
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