Curly Kale Nero di Toscana

What Curly Kale Nero di Toscana is

Curly Kale Nero di Toscana (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) is an annual vegetable of the Cabbage family (Brassicaceae). An early variety, also called "black palm" because of its appearance. Plants reach 90 cm. tall.

The leaves are dark green and are used fresh, in soups, and can decorate not only food but also flowers.

The plants will withstand frost. Cold encourages sugars to build up in the leaves, so after a frost the leaves take on a distinctive soft, sweetish flavour.

Kale, or curly cabbage, is high in beta-carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, iron and antioxidants.

It is a source of two carotenoids - lutein and zeaxanthin.

Kale (curly cabbage) is a superfood for the garden — rich in vitamins K, C and A, frost-hardy and productive from summer to winter.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 86%
• Seeds per packet: 229–311 pcs (1 g)
• Seed origin: Italy
• Sowing: February – May; seedlings or direct
• Harvest: January and October – December
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Curly Kale Nero di Toscana

Curly Kale Nero di Toscana seeds are sown in February – May. Harvest in January and October – December. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Curly Kale Nero di Toscana

• Sowing method: seedlings or direct
• Depth: 1 cm
• Spacing: 40–50 cm
• Germination: 5–10 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Sow seeds in April and May in a seedbed. Sprinkle seeds in shallow drills, leaving 15 cm. between the rows. Around July, when the young plants are about 10-15 cm tall, transplant them to their permanent growing position. Dig a planting hole and replant fairly deeply, spacing the plants about 45 cm apart. apart. Water well. Harvest from October to February. You can pick individual leaves or cut off the main head, but leave the plants in place, as they will regrow.

Plant in rich soil; water regularly. Tolerates frosts down to −15 °C, and the cold makes it sweeter.

Harvest and use

Pick the lower leaves one at a time — the plant keeps growing and crops for months.

Frequently asked questions

When should Curly Kale Nero di Toscana be sown?

The recommended sowing months are February – May. Sowing method: seedlings or direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 229–311 seeds, pack size 1 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 86%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

Can kale overwinter in the garden?

Yes — it tolerates frosts and yields leaves through most of the winter.