Vegetables

Cavolo nero (Tuscan kale)

Brassica oleracea var. palmifolia

A kale with long, crinkled, near-black leaves; the base of ribollita. Very cold-hardy.

Light: Full sun (6 h or more)
Height: 0.6–1 m
Watering: Moderate: 2–3 times a week in summer
Soil: fertile, rich in organic matter
Edible?: Yes: the leaves
How to plant: Sow in trays undefined cm deep; plant out at 4–6 leaves, 50 cm apart.
Care: Pick leaves from the bottom up; the plant keeps cropping all winter. Frost improves the flavour.

Calendar by climate

Warm coast

Mild Mediterranean

Southern interior

Continental interior

Cold interior and uplands

Atlantic

Canary Islands (subtropical)

SowPlantHarvestPruneFeedTreat

Dates are for growing outdoors. You can start seedlings earlier indoors or in a greenhouse, but plant them out only once the frosts are over.

Mild Mediterranean

Mild Mediterranean

Approximate doses: always follow the product label. Spray in the evening, never in full sun or on flowers visited by bees. No sulphur above 30 °C.