Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: sclarke624 on January 30, 2009, 23:22

Title: curly Kale
Post by: sclarke624 on January 30, 2009, 23:22

OH fancies trying Curly Kale.  What does it taste like, bearing in mind he will only eat veg raw.  Gonna buy some first to try as last year grew Kohl rabbi before trying (got free seeds) and didn't like it atttttt allllll.

Ta

Title: Re: curly Kale
Post by: lucywil on January 31, 2009, 08:33

we love it, it doesn't have a strong taste and most of the stuff you get from the supermarket is tasteless. the best way to cook it is to steam it and not for too long that way it keeps its flavour (and colour if its purple).

it is probably the easiest vegetable to grow and i planted 8 plants last year and they have kept us going all winter

Title: Re: curly Kale
Post by: Aidy on January 31, 2009, 09:24

Why not grow a couple of different types? Kale is very good for your eyes and protects the retina. I grow Green curly, Scarlet and Black Tuscany which is our favourite. It is really easy to grow and even the Pigeons hate it.

Title: Re: curly Kale
Post by: Moosey on January 31, 2009, 09:49

I love it  :)

Can bung it into anything.  Stir fried is nice with some onion and bacon.  Or just added into a curry like spinich.  Boiled, steamed, very easy to grow and really easy to cook  :)  Dont know about raw though!

Title: Re: curly Kale
Post by: Stripey_cat on January 31, 2009, 10:49

The mature leaves can be a bit tough, so you might be better off growing younger plants under cover for him to eat raw.

Title: Re: curly Kale
Post by: madcat on January 31, 2009, 16:27

Aidy - I wish I had your pidgeons!  I planted the poor things out and went back the next day to net.   What was left of them ...... >:(  Most recovered but still ... they have to go under the brassica netting.

The butterflies dont like them - they didnt suffer from the caterpliers like everything else brassica.   ::)

Title: Re: curly Kale
Post by: sclarke624 on January 31, 2009, 21:53

ok young crops sound good and diff varieties.........any ideas on what it tastes like raw though he won't eat cooked veg at all, few exceptions onions and tats, even eats raw brussels (hot peppery taste).

Title: Re: curly Kale
Post by: jennyb on January 31, 2009, 22:15

i still have some scarlet curly kale seeds that i offered in swapshop,  if you fancy trying them just PM me.

Title: Re: curly Kale
Post by: sclarke624 on January 31, 2009, 22:52

Thanks for the offer Jenny, I have PM'd you. :)

Title: Re: curly Kale
Post by: penance on January 31, 2009, 23:02

The young leaves of black tusany (Cavolo Nero it's sometimes called) have a slightly peppery taste. They are lovely in salads, but my fave is a big pile of steamed black tuscany with roast beef.
I'm not to keen on other Kales but that one is great!