Cvolo nero, lacinato, etc

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Dear Sean and all,

 

I wrote about the kale you mentioned in my book Golden Gate Gardening and have been it off and on for many years. I was introduced to it by a San Francisco community gardener who was give seed by Italian-Americans in his community garden. They called it braschetti. I have since heard it called lacinato kale and dinosaur or dino kale, for its unusual appearance. I have some in my garden in San Francisco now and the tallest is indeed about 4 feet.

 

I don't suggest starting it just now, as I don't think it will grow big in our winter chill. It works best if you plant out 6 week old seedlings in mid to late summer, before the end of August, to grow into fall. I will be picking leaves until the plant begins to bloom, in maybe Feb or March, when it has accumulated enough chill to vernalize it. It may also work to plant out seedlings in February, after growing inside for 6 weeks. 

 

Be cautious of cabbage aphid, the gray ones, as the deep pockets on the leaf undersides make them difficult to remove. I had quite an infestation last summer, but washed them off wiith a hard spray of water, then sprayed once with a commercial canola oil-based summer oil, and the plants have been almost entirely free of aphid since.

 

I have most recently chopped it and sauteed it in olive oil and butter with onion and garlic, then mixed that with cooked cheese ravioli, some parmesan, a bit of half-and-half, a dash of salt and pepper.

 

Bon appetit,

 

Pam Peirce