Nero Di Toscana Cabbage or Black Palm Tree

OhioGardener 4/13/2021, 8:01 pm

Received an order I had placed with Baker Creek, and there was a free package of seeds for "Nero Di Toscana Cabbage or Black Palm Tree" in with the order. Curious about that name "Black Palm Tree", I had to look it up to see what they were. Looks like a very interesting Kale plant that grows into a small tree. The leaves in the pictures look like the Lacinato kale I grow, but the size appears larger. Anyone grown this kale? I am thinking I may start three seedlings to transplant into a corner of one of the beds to see what happens. Love experimenting.... Smile

https://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/bulk-vegetables/lettuce-and-greens/nero-di-toscana-cabbage-dinosaur-or-lacinato-kale

markqz 4/13/2021, 10:59 pm

Well, maybe in a few months we can compare notes. I bought these Walking Kale seeds from Baker Creek. They're already somewhere between 6 and 12 inches high. I'm wondering if I could grow my own trellis or fence extension. I have a slight concern that the botanically illiterate must mistake them for MJ.

Realizing that kale is actually a mustard plant, I realize that Jesus might not have been talking figuratively when he told the parable about a mustard plant that grew into an entire tree. The Mediterranean climate might have allowed some tall mustards to over-winter, turning into veritable trees just like Italian kale (dinosaur kale, apparently also known as Italian Cabbage) does in my front yard.

Yardslave 4/16/2021, 1:40 pm

I have a Tree Kale that is similar to those Lacinato types and they are unbelievably prolific. Mine "jumped" the box and spread unsupported throughout the garden. The variety has leaves that are as big as a hand with fingers spread. They cook up well, but because they are thicker, take a bit longer. If you are into green-goo smoothies, these are the thing to grow. Because of their smooth leaves, they don't harbor aphids as much as the Lacinato or Russian reds. They require little maintainance, but respond well to frequent feeding and cutting back.

OhioGardener 4/16/2021, 2:10 pm

Yardslave wrote: They require little maintainance, but respond well to frequent feeding and cutting back.

What do you use for feeding them? Since I do organic gardening, the only "fertilizers" I typically use are things like worm castings or blood meal, and of course my home made compost. I have, within the last couple years, found that Comfrey Tea to be extremely beneficial to the plants.

Yardslave 4/18/2021, 6:37 pm

Sorry for not responding sooner. I start with a seasonal dressing of compost, then supplement with Espoma Organic Plant-tone when the leaf production slows down. The plants have overwintered without much care at all- they just keep on growing.

Paul Crowe 3/25/2023, 6:01 am

I have grown this for 30+ years it gives an abundance of leaves which are nicely flavoured. Hardiness very hardy where I live in Torquay, Devon and has survived a one off temperature of -12 deg C [ 10.4 deg F] and 10 days later was producing new leaves. I always take the lower leaves first and ensure that there are always 7 or 8 leaves left on the plants. They do seem to appreciate a lime dressing before planting 8oz per square yard so roughly 1oz to the square foot.

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Nero Di Toscana Cabbage or Black Palm Tree

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