I haven’t shared a Kale Report since last November. Sow True Seed sponsored my Kale Reporting @ Large Project. If you missed the details of the project you can go here to read about it.
I planted 5 varieties of Kale: Dwarf Siberian, Red Russian, Lacinato, White Russian, and Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch last fall. All the varieties did great! Hard to pick a favorite but I really liked the Lacinato and the White Russian.
Both the Russian varieties are still producing in the garden. The others might still be doing well too…if we hadn’t eaten them all.
Since I last reported another Kale Reporter @ Large sent in her report-see below.
December 2015 Kale Report from Joy:
Tipper, I am so sorry to report that we had a MASSIVE aphid infestation this fall, and they thoroughly wiped out all the STS kale!! They germinated beautifully, grew to about 3″-4″ tall, but then the aphids were just awful. We’re also having tons of trouble with cabbage moths too on our broccolis, so this is pretty weird all around. We went from a very dry fall, to suddenly very wet, and now very warm. The entire garden is confused. Sorry I don’t have better results to share! – Joy
1st photo – September 20, 2015 ‘Dwarf Siberian’ (full tray)
2nd photo – September 25, 2015 – all 3 varieties
3rd and 4th photo – November 5th, 2015 – none of the plants recovered
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This was my first try at planting Kale-but it won’t be my last! I’m impressed with the tenacity of the White Russian and Red Russian Kale and can’t believe they’re still growing. This has been a very warm winter-it will be interesting to see if they make a comeback after the frigid cold and snow we’re experiencing right now leaves the area.
Tipper
Tipper,
It was snow/sleet mix in Knoxville an hour or so ago…..We are now getting lots of snow and we are West of Knoxville….I have no doubt that you will get that snow…
Changed our mind on the spaghetti….Food City had their midnight sale started at 12:00PM today…Beautiful spiral sliced hams for 99 cents a pound….We froze some for breakfast meals, some for sandwiches, some for soup, and the bone will go in a pot of white beans tomorrow….Some folks had three and four hams in their buggys…
Do you have a Food City near you?
We had ham sliders….on Hawaiian rolls…quick, simple and good…
That snow is on it’s way
Thanks Tipper
Nancy-LOL I wish I could talk about snow! None for me yet…but I’m still hoping for at least a little!
Tipper,
Did you ever try those Kale chips….I didn’t get to make any due to the deer feeding on all my small patch of raised bed Kale….Could have been a “Whistle Pig” as well….we’ve seen several around…
I think I will make a pot of spaghetti for supper….with salad…wish I had some fresh kale to go in the salad….
Snow/freezing rain is on it’s way…a bit earlier than expected….Stay dry, stay warm….
Feed the chickens….one never knows when one might have to serve one in the iron skillet!…ha
As Barbara Woodall said…”A chicken is a great gift…you can eat them before they are born, and you can eat them after they are dead!” Ha
Thanks Tipper,
Another subject besides kale – please post pics of the beautiful snow when you get some!
I have your site bookmarked and it’s the first on the list. When I turn on my computer, I open up it up and read the latest from Brasstown. I don’t even bother with my email.
It’s 25° here and not expected to get above 27°. We have about 3″ of snow and are expecting maybe another 8 to 10. I’m sorry, I tried to it off in your direction but it ran right over me.
You’ve got me hooked on Kale now but it has been from the store. I didn’t get anything planted last fall.
I sure wish I had something green growing right now! I’ve already received my Sow True Seed order for next Spring, and it includes Lacinato Kale again, and my exciting experiment: Candy Roasters. Which I think will have to be started indoors to give them a long growing season, but from what you all say about them, it will be worth the effort.
Never bought my seeds in Winter before, but it’s turning out to be a fine thing: during these bitter cold days I can spread out the seed packets and imagine that next year will be the Best Garden Ever 🙂
I didn’t grow kale, but I have eaten it in a salad mix quite often. Your success is wonderful and whatever you have left had better be covered as your much desired white and fluffy snow is on its way. Although, I really enjoy snow and its looks, I admit that I am happy to be in FL right now. However, we are having some heavy rain and whatever else goes with a storm. Happy sledding!
Tipper,
After I commented early this morning, my Blind Pig e-mail came in at 7:05.
Boy, it sure is windy. My power went off 3 times for a jiffy, but came back on.
That’s just enough to have to re-set everything. It’s 46 degrees right now but the
weather man says we’ll be all Snow later today and tonight. I wonder!!! …Ken
I’m not in your project but I have the Dwarf Blue Curled and it has come through the 9 nights below freezing this month with flying colors. I just picked some yesterday to go into vegetable soup. The cold hammered my radishes, mustard, broccoli, lettuce and even parsley. The turnips don’t seem damaged but they have stopped growing new leaves. My carrots are unaffected also. I have been covering my cabbage and brussel sprouts so they are hanging on.
Glad you had the note about yesterday. I was concerned that maybe you had troubles.
Hope nobody has weather-related troubles in all the mixed up rain-sleet-snow-wind. Seems like we are having all the weather there is within about 72 hours.
Tipper,
I usually don’t receive the e-mails from the Blind Pig and the Acorn till just after 7 am, but like yesterday I noticed under Recent Posts that the Kale Report is already out. Thankfully, I know how to get it, but I would feel better if it’d come to my mailbox.
Joy had a bad time with her Kale experience, sorry about that. I ain’t never ate Kale, but I heard on Fox News that Kale was replacing most of the cabbage in slaw in restaurants now. I bet I’d like it cause I like most greens.
Boy, it rained hard all night long, can you imagine what would have happened if it’d been colder? I hope we don’t have all that Ice they’re predicting cause it’ll be goodbye power…Ken