[shokkyy]

Since they seem to come in such a wonderful range of colours, I might try a couple of plants each of 2 or 3 different varieties. The Cavolo Nero/Nero di Toscana/black Italian (they are all the same thing, aren't they?) sounds like a good bet, but how about the red and green varieties? MOS voted for Red Russian, but any thoughts on good green varieties, or are they all much the same?

And it doesn't look like something that would freeze particularly well, but am I right in thinking you can leave it in the ground for quite a long time, just taking leaves when you want them?

[Growster...]

The lovely cabbage white does lay eggs on black kale, but seems to (mainly) avoid the curly sorts.


and I net them all so the pigeons leave them alone in the winter

KC, do you reckon that it's because any self respecting Cabbage White would find it very difficult to find a flat place to perch on curly kale...?

The one we're growing really is incredibly crinkly!

[arugula]

I might try a couple of plants each of 2 or 3 different varieties. The Cavolo Nero/Nero di Toscana/black Italian (they are all the same thing, aren't they?) .......

And it doesn't look like something that would freeze particularly well,

It freezes very well - just chopped and raw.  I keep bags of it in the freezer ready to add to dishes.

[New shoot]

The black kale is all pretty much the same by different names Shokky.  It does look really attractive if you grow it next to the red and green curly kale and has a different taste from the others, so have that one as a must.

The Red Russian sounds good.  I've got basic red and basic green and they taste very similar to each other.  The red does seem to be left alone more by slugs and butterflies. 

They are very hardy veg that you can pick now if the plants are big enough and through the winter until spring.  You may have to wait for yours to establish, but once you have the seeds you can sow earlier next year 

[8doubles]

Growing Kale for the first time this year and so far I am very impressed. Slugs have largely ignored it as have the butterflies and pigeons. Tastes like strong cabbage to me but so very different from the stewed to death stuff from my almost forgotten school days it's nice. Chopped none too fine and given a quick blanch and it's great as a veg with sunday lunch, chopped finer and lobbed in a stir fry for the last few seconds also works well. Curly Kale is firmly on my "to grow" list for next year

If it ain`t good enough for them it`s not good enough for me!

Seriously though it is too strong for me so i will stick with the cabbage that the pests think is worth eating.
I do grow kale for other family members .................and the whitefly !