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Pentland Brig Kale

Details Open-Pollinated Type: curled edged leaves Shape: ? Color: ? Maturity: 8-9 weeks (50-60 days) Size: 2′ plants Yield: 76-153 lbs per 100 sq ft Taste: “delicate, sweeter and more succulent” “tender and succulent leaves” Disease Resistance or Environmental Tolerance: very winter hardy tolerates hot weather more than most kale Notes: produces excellent kale raab […]

Portuguese Kale (Tronchuda Cabbage)

Details Brassica oleracea acephala Open-pollinated heirloom  Type: ? Shape: ? Color: ? Maturity: 50-60 Size: ? Yield: ? Taste: “very juicy, sweet, and tender” “succulent texture is outstanding in soups and pastas” “a necessary ingredient in Portuguese kale and sausage soup” Disease Resistance or Environmental Tolerance: tolerates winter cold stands heat better than other kales […]

How to Grow Kale

Since this is one of the few greens that I actually like when cooked, I decided to try growing it this year. Botanical Information Taxonomy Brassica oleracea acephala History until the Middle Ages, kale was one of the most common green vegetables eaten in Europe wikipedia considered to be the most primitive members of the […]

Thousand-Headed Kale

Details Brassica oleracea acephala Ancient heirloom kale Open-Pollinated Type: multi-plant, plain leaf variety Color: blue-grey-green leaves Maturity: 50-60 days Size: “huge plant” medium-height variety; will reach up to 5′ Yield: huge plant, with many individual growing points; puts out lots of food Taste: ? Disease Resistance or Environmental Tolerance: particularly cold-hardy tolerates poor soil conditions rarely […]

The Wild World Within

Great article on the effect of diet on the health of your microbiome – bacteria, yeasts, and fungi that inhabit your gut. Your microbiome is potentially the cornerstone for health issues from weight, to mood, to allergies, and of course heart-health. Author: Gretel H. Schueller Article: The Wild World Within Magazine: Eating Well Issue: July / […]

Black Rot (stub)

Quick Intro Physical Description Google Images Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Xanthomonas campestri Lifecycle   Plants Affected   Plants Unaffected   Geographical Range   Signs & Symptoms Whole Plant Leaves Flowers   Fruit Roots/Tubers How to Positively Identify   Treatment Prevention & Control   Cultural Controls: Habitat: Temperature & Humidity:   […]

Black Leg

Fungal disease that affects cole crops (broccoli, cabbage, mustards, etc) primarily in warm wet seasons. Physical Description Google Images Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Phoma lingam Lifecycle   Plants Affected Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Kale Kohlrabi Mustard (some) Radishes (some) Turnips Plants Unaffected   Geographical Range   Signs & Symptoms […]

Clubroot

Clubroot is caused by the soil-borne fungus Plasmodiophora brassicae, and it is the most serious disease of the brassica family. Physical Description Very serious problem where fungus attacks roots and kills the plant Google images of clubroot Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Rhizaria Phylum: Cercozoa Class: Phytomyxea Order: Plasmodiophorales Family: Plasmodiophoraceae Genus Species: Plasmodiophora brassicae Lifecycle spores are […]

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew on Lavender Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that effects many types of plants, and is fairly easy to manage. It causes poor growth and lower yields, but seldom kills the plant. There are many different species of powdery mildew that cause the disease on many different species of plants. See list of species and their […]