Perennial Cabbages

[Talondegato]

Hi, folks.

I am growing sea kale, a perennial of the cabbage family. An ancient vegetable, you eat the blanched spring leaf stalks (the process is like forcing rhubarb). In latin it is Crambe maritima. Trying to grow, I should say, no harvest yet.

My correspondents in a Quebecois/French francophone forum (french is not my first or second language) talk of another perennial cabbage

Chou d'Aubenton

which they say is not Crambe maritima. It can be grown from seed (eagerly awaited) but more commonly from the freely formed divisions. I can find no reference to it in any English source. Does anybody know of it, of an English or latin name, or how to grow or eat it?


I would like to hear from anyone with experience growing sea kale, and from anyone with clues about the Aubenton cabbage.

Until the pleasure of your replies,

Adam.

[Lamb Abbey Orchards]

I would like to hear from anyone with experience growing sea kale, and from anyone with clues about the Aubenton cabbage.

Until the pleasure of your replies,

Adam.

Adam:

I Googled it myself and may have found the same information you did. In particular though I discovered that Chou d'Aubenton falls into the classification of Brassica oleracea ramosa:

'Daubenton' 'Perennial Daubenton'
This is a truly perennial form of kale and can only be propagated by cuttings since it rarely if ever flowers or produces seed[K]. Another report says that only some of the branches flower each year[183]. A very productive leaf vegetable, the flavour and uses are the same as for the usual forms of kale.

Check out this link (http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Brassica+oleracea+ramosa&CAN=COMIND) for more in-depth information.

Good luck!

John

[Talondegato]

John:
Wow, that was quick. I had not found that information and I now see I put an apostrophe where there is none. Daubenton.

We will see what grows from my seed, being sent as we speak by Francoise, of the lovely named town of Ste Genevieve des Bois, outside Paris. Apparently Daubenton will sometimes set seed.

But new confusion; the information sometimes suggests that thousand head and ragged jack are also B. o. var ramosa, others that ragged jack is red russian kale, B.o. var acephala. There is another semi-perennial kale known in Britain as Nine Star, which I think is different from Daubenton, because Nine Star will produce seed if you do not pick the white heads, and is shortlived, unlike Daubenton.

None of these varieties seem to be known or available in the US or Canada, unless that is Red Russian and Ragged Jack are indeed the same. I suspect Red Russian may be used for different plants this side of the ocean.

Who ever thought kale could be so interesting.
Adam.

[Lamb Abbey Orchards]

Adam:

I'll be curious to hear what you think of these kales once you're able to grow them out and try them.

It looks like there indeed IS a bit of confusion as to the difference between Russian Red and Ragged Jack kale. Baker Creek's site lists them as synonymous (http://www.rareseeds.com/catlisting.php?cat=132); however Heirloom Acres Seeds (http://www.heirloomacresseeds.com) lists Ragged Jack as 'Siberian Improved Kale,' describes it as having extremely hardy broad thick leaves that have frilled edges and a blue-green color, and offers it in addition to a variety they call Russian Red. They post pics of both, too. Clearly someone has these mixed up.

My hunch is that Baker Creek is accurate, especially given that the Plants For A Future (http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Brassica+oleracea+ramosa&CAN=COMIND) database describes Ragged Jack as having 'Wavy Red Leaves.' Who knows though. There must be a definitive kale lexicon that you can consult to know for sure. I'm just not sure what it would be.


Happy Growing!

John