Sea Kale Seed Lily White
Crambe maritima 'Lily White'
- Often found growing by the sea.
- A very old vegetable that pre-dates Victorian times.
- Once established plants can crop for 5-7 years.
Supplied as a packet of approximately 10 seeds.
This Product is Available Now.GBP1 or more £3.25 each
Description
This vegetable long pre-dates Victorian times and was once most popular. The blanched shoots, young flower heads and very young leaves can be eaten raw or the leaf midribs cooked and eaten like Asparagus; forced Sea Kale is also a real delicacy.
As the name implies, Sea Kale is often found growing near the sea on beaches, cliffs and rocks and is tolerant of both salt air and drought.
If you have an exposed area of the garden where little else will grow, consider Sea Kale as it will happily colonise it and turn non-productive ground into something productive.
- Sea Kale seed has a corky outside layer which allows it to float at sea for several years and so germination can be very slow if this is left on.
- Gently crush the outer seed case to reveal the seed within - alternatively soak seed in a bowl of fresh water for at least 24 hours.
- Sow 1" (2.5 cm) deep in trays of moist compost at 22°C and keep well watered.
- After germination transplant into modules or small pots and grow on under protection.
- When plants are 2" - 3" (5 - 7.5 cm) tall set out 2 feet (60 cm) apart in rows 2 feet (60 cm) apart.
- Sow seed 1" deep in trays of moist compost.
- Sea Kale is a close relative to Brassicas so avoid planting in soil infected with clubroot.
- Grow as you would cabbages, cleaning up any dead or damaged foliage as required.
- Do not start forcing plants until their third full growing season.
- Plants will deteriorate and need replacing after 5 - 7 years of cropping (ie approximately ten years from when first started).
- Forcing Sea Kale
- Sea Kale can be forced and blanched where it has grown (meaning the same plants can be used for several years) or can be lifted and forced in warmer conditions (resulting in the plants being discarded after forcing); forcing in situ is therefore the most practical way.
- Forcing In Situ
- Any time after the leaves have died right back, from autumn until January clear away the old leaf debris.
- Cover the crowns with about 3" (7.5 cm) of dry leaves which will help to insulate the crown.
- Now cover the individual crowns with buckets or similar - traditional clay Sea Kale forcing pots are perfect but virtually impossible to find! Whatever you use the pots should be around 12" (30 cm) in diameter and at least 15" (37.5 cm) tall and must completely exclude the light. Ensure they are firmly held down so they do not blow away.
- Shoots are usually ready for cutting within about 3 months and ideally should be 4" - 8" (10 - 20 cm) long when cut. Use a sharp knife to cut them low down with a little piece of root attached.
- Stop cutting in May and uncover plants allowing them to regrow.
- They can then be forced again the following season.
- Forcing Indoors
- Dig up the crowns after the first frost.
- Pot up into gritty compost or pack into boxes or crates and place in a greenhouse or cool room.
- Exclude all light with buckets, up-turned pots or similar.
- Cut shoots as they appear, ideally at about 4" - 8" (10 - 20 cm) long.
- At the end of the season you will probably need to dispose of the plants.
Pricing
This Product is Available Now.
General Information
A Note About Our Seed Packets & Seed Counts
Information on Victoriana's method of packeting seed, including information on the seed packets. Also details on Victoriana's seed guarantee.
