[Steveharford]

I have just received some cavalo Nero and kale fizz plugs in the post. Forgot I'd ordered them and now wondering if they will be productive in my small polytunnel over winter. I would rather not put them outside with all the palaver with pigeon protection etc but I will need space in the poly tunnel for my toms in the spring. Is anyone doing this? I've not much experience with brassicas apart from eating them.  :-)

[arugula]

Kale really doesn't need to be inside. I appreciate your thoughts on pigeon protection, but sometimes plants which don't need to be inside will suffer if you plant them that way. I've never tried to grow kale inside before, so I can't say from personal experience whether it would suffer under these conditions.

[ptarmigan]

I haven't tried growing Kale inside - but I would imagine it might bolt.  Mine is outside without any netting and doesn't seem to have been particularly targeted by birds...

[Steveharford]

Thanks both. I have at least 18 plants of each so maybe the best bet is to plant half in and half out as if I lose one half I should have more than enough for just the two of us.

[arugula]

If you find the room to plant them all, it preserves well with blanching and freezing and can be added to soups and stews if you find you can't keep up with eating it fresh.

[strider84]

18 of each!?

I've got 4 kale plants which gives me plenty.

The pigeons started to destroy my kale in mid august so I've just thrown some fleece over the top works wonders.

My Kale was sown in March and sat through the heatwave of the summer no issues with bolting.

I wouldn't bother growing it inside as mentioned it will probably do more harm than good kale is pretty indestructable ever when the pigeons reduced one of my plants down to a stump its regrown.

[CDave]

you might find that the pigeons like your Kale whenever you put them out. Up here they are not fussy!