As noted above, ornamental cabbage and kale are edible. Ask Your Gardening Question. We teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities.
Connect with your County Extension Office ». Find an Extension employee in our staff directory ». Facebook Twitter. Feedback, questions or accessibility issues: info extension. Skip to content Search for:. Ornamental cabbages and kales are prized for their brightly colored foliage. Additional Images. To rake or not to rake? If you cook the kale , the stems will become more tender. Cabbage pests, most typically larvae like cabbageworm, cabbage looper and diamondback moth larvae, can destroy a cabbage patch.
Not only do they chew through the leaves and head of the cabbage , they also leave excrement and dead insects inside the head, rendering it unfit for consumption. While considered an annual , ornamental kale is botanically a biennial. This means that it produces foliage the first year and flowers the second year. Most valued for its foliage, ornamental kale is grown as an annual.
Plant these after heavy feeders or after soil enrichers such as beans. Cabbage Family Brassica, Cruciferae : Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage , cauliflower, Chinese cabbage , collards, cress, kale, kohlrabi, radishes, turnips. These are heavy feeders. These crops should follow legumes. Yes, in theory you could eat ornamental cabbage and kale but it tastes very bitter and was not grown for eating.
If you are looking for cabbage and kale to eat , it would be better to plant or purchase edible varieties. You don't need a vegetable garden to grow these edible plants — they are so attractive you can grow them right in your flower beds or front yard! Annual , biennial, or perennial : Cabbage is a biennial plant but it is grown as an annual. For seed production it is biennial. How long do ornamental cabbage plants last?
Category: healthy living nutrition. Does cabbage come back every year? Why is my cabbage not forming a head? Why Cabbage Won't Form.
Keep soil around plant roots moist, but not overly wet. Some gardeners plant in containers and forget to keep these plants watered. Plants may quickly wilt during warmer temperatures. Plants thrive in full sun to slight shade.
Plants will survive temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit, but may perish if temperatures change rapidly. Gradually expose plants to cooler temperatures or cover plants with a row cover on very cold nights. Gradually cooling temperatures will enhance the color of ornamental kale plants. Selection: Select healthy ornamental kale plants that provide the desired texture and colors for your landscape. If it's late in the season, plants may not increase much in size.
If you are planting into larger containers, open up girdled roots to allow continued growth. Many plants are pot bound when you purchase them. There is a great variety of colors of ornamental kale ranging from hues of green and white to purple. Textures vary from cabbage-like leaves to open lacy leaves with multiple layers of texture and color. Display: Potted plants should be positioned to exhibit the best angle for display of colors and textures.
Plants with similar color and texture can be planted in masses of three or more in large pots or in beds to provide a bold statement in the landscape. It is usually grown as an annual in the cool gardens of fall, and winter. Bred to look attractive, it is edible , but generally has a bitter flavor.
A biennial plant is one that blooms in the second year. Since ornamental kale is typically grown as an annual, there is no true flower formation during its one year of vegetative growth. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. The name refers instead to the center leaves of pink, purple, red, or white, that give the illusion of a blossom surrounded by foliage.
In this article you will learn how to cultivate and care for annual flowering kale. In addition, you will discover available varieties, plus the best ways to display them.
Ornamental kale and cabbage are in the same family. Kale is noteworthy for its feathery, fringed, or wavy leaves, while cabbage has smooth, rounded foliage. It prefers a location with full sun and organically-rich soil that drains well. The ideal pH is between 6. Plant heights range from about 6 to 35 inches tall, with center rosettes in shades of pink, purple, white, and bi-color combinations. As a matter of fact, a chilling frost suppresses chlorophyll production and intensifies rosette colors.
In addition to its attractive center leaves, the outer foliage may be light, medium, or dark green; and bluish, pinkish, purplish, or reddish green. It is believed that ornamental kale was one of the plant specimens they brought back with them. By , this colorful cool-weather plant was listed in American seed catalogs for home gardeners interested in plants for their decorative value. Sow seed directly into the garden or into a 12 inch wide by 12 inch deep container about three months before the last average frost date in the fall.
Sprinkle seeds about an inch apart over organically rich soil. Do not cover them. Germination takes 7 to 10 days. Mulch around plants to help retain moisture. Some folks like to space plants closer together. This keeps them more compact, but reduces airflow.
Some are still green, awaiting that first chill to bring out their vibrant hues. As plants grow, an inch or so of rain per week is adequate.
Supplement during dry spells. In addition, bottom leaves may become soggy, brown, or yellow with age, excess rainfall, and thawing after a frost.
Remove them with clean, sharp pruning shears. In this case, they may become mushy and translucent as they thaw, and give off a cabbage-like odor. Remove them from the garden and dispose of them. For tall cultivars, staking is required to maintain an erect posture. A bamboo landscape stake and some twine are all you need. Once at full height, they benefit from having their lower leaves trimmed away, allowing them to put all their energy into rosette production.
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