[diospyros]

I was planning on growing kale next year, and have grown Black Tuscany in the past.  However there does seem to be a problem with pigeons on our allotment.  Kale grows very tall and seems difficult to protect effectively unless you grow it in a closely spaced block which doesn't fit with my plan.

So I was just searching for "dwarf kale" or "short kale" but can't immediately see a Tuscan type which grows short.

So then I got to thinking, what would happen if you cut the stems down very low in the autumn and cross-cut them, would it grow back vigorously enough to provide an effective harvest, but be low enough that each plant could have its own net cloche?

[compostqueen]

Maybe You could give it a whirl.  Nothing ventured an all that ......  Make that your research project for 2014:)

I don't see why it wouldn't work as partly cut cabbages put out lots of "sprouts" afterwards

[sunshineband]

I have found that if you crop Cavelo Nero hard, it stays much shorter overall, at around 40com

This year I have let it grow much more freely, and it is about 60cm - 70 cm high, which may mean you could net over each plant individually if that is what would suit your growing style

[NickoV]

Ursa Red Russian has stayed pretty compact for us.
It is also one of the only kales that we will eat raw in a salad. In the spring it sends up masses of tender sweet leaves which are great steamed.The flower spikes are tasty too.

Nick

[sunshineband]

The spring flower spikes of kale are delicious. We discovered these a couple of years back, and now don't pull up the plants too soon 

[New shoot]

I use a double row of crossed canes for black kale, like a runner bean frame.  I tie netting to the top cane and peg it lower down.  Makes it easy to get into the crop if you use pegs at the lower levels 

[Aidy]

strange as round these parts the rats with wings dont touch our kale 

[Annen]

Now mine have got tall the pigeons can't reach very well and are less affected.  Mind you, they seem to leave kale until the last to eat, they much prefer cabbage.

[Gardener and Rabbit]

I grow Starbor kale which stays quite compact for me, so it's easier to protect from the pigeons. The other thing I like about it is that it doesn't have the thick central vein down the leaves that the Tuscan kale has, I found that could get a bit tough as the leaves got bigger.