Kitchen Gardener Rob Smith shows you how to take perennial kale cu ings
Perennial kale is a now a giant, while callaloo brings gorgeous colour
This year I‘ve had real success with brassicas in general. Be it cabbages or cauliflowers, broccoli or kale, they all seem to have thrived in the conditions that have been created by the weather so far. On the other hand, carrots have been really slow to grow for me, so I’ve increased the watering regime for them and they seem to have responded; let’s just hope the roots don’t split!
Since I’m talking about brassicas I thought I’d mention the Daubenton’s perennial kale I bought earlier in the year from Pennard Plants. This unusual variety can only be grown from cuttings and I only have one plant, yet it’s grown and grown! It’s become a whopper in my raised bed even though it has been constantly harvested for the past few months, with friends not
believing it’s just one kale plant. With this in mind I thought I’d take some cuttings to give to friends so they can also enjoy kale 365 days a year, too!
Firstly, select a branch that’s between the thickness of a pencil and your middle finger and cut it around 20cm (8in) long. Remove all the leaves so only small, immature leaves are starting to break at the tip and cut the bottom of the cutting just below a leaf node, as that’s where the roots will come from. Dip the cutting in rooting powder or gel and slide three down the side of a pot filled with either seed or cuttings compost or a mix of 50/50 multi-purpose and grit.
I’ll keep the cuttings in the shade in the greenhouse and make sure
they’re well watered; at this time of year they should have roots in around three weeks. Once you see signs of life, each cutting can be given its own pot, grown on and then planted out or gifted to a gardening friend. Cuttings should grow with ease; I’ve even heard stories of people taking a full branch from perennial kales, sticking it straight into the ground and