Black Palm Kale – 20 Seeds

Black Palm Kale is a Heirloom Kale variety which originates from Tuscany and is a favorite Italian vegetable. This Italian heirloom dates back to the early 1800s. It is also known as Palm Kale, Black Tuscan Kale, Dinosaur kale and Black cabbage.

The plant is a perennial and produces dark green to black leaves with slight wrinkles on the leaves and a firm texture. The leaves are deeply veined and branch off of the stem and hang in a similar fashion as the fronds of a palm tree, hence the term Palm Kale.

It is a tall kale that can grow to four feet in height by three feet wide. Although this Heirloom Kale is a vegetable, it makes for a beautiful ornamental plant in the garden as well.

Black Palm Kale Culinary Uses

It is a well known and favorite Italian vegetable. Low in calories, Black Palm Kale is packed with vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, and potassium.

• Black kale may be steamed, braised, stewed, fried, sautéed and juiced.
• It is traditionally used in soups and stews.
• It is also sautéed with olive oil & garlic and tossed with pasta.
• It can also be eaten raw and added to salads.

Growing Black Palm Kale

• Plant in spring as soon as the ground can be worked or in autumn for an over-winter crop.
• Sow  Kale Seeds 1/4 to 1/2″ deep.
• Thin seedlings to 8-12″ apart.
• Kale germinates best in cool or warm soil temperatures with even moisture.
• Choose an area with full sun and a soil pH of 6.0-7.0.
• Enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure.
• Harvest by clipping individual leaves
• Kale is very hardy and quality actually improves after a frost.
• It tolerates full sun, but is best when grown in partial shade in fertile soils with good drainage.