KALE (Brassica oleracea L., conv. acephala (DC.) Alef. var. viridis)

The kale is biennial plant, it provides high yields of forage at the first year of vegetation, and it provides the harvest of seeds at the second year of vegetation. The kale tolerates low temperatures without suffering of feed value. Stem of the kale is strong, 1 – 2 m long, with big juicy leaves. The main root grows into the depth 1,5 m. The kale is used as the source of forage, it is harvested by the needs from September to the end of November, sometimes longer. It is possible to ensilage the kale with straw or with maize. The feed value of the kale is similar to slices of the beet. Marrow varieties have pulpy stem, 30 % of leaves, they provide higher content of saccharides. Leaf varieties have 70 % of leaves, sometimes they are named as stalk kale, they have thin and branched stem. Leaf varieties provide higher content of nitrogenous matter.

 Grower requirements

The kale tolerates frosts to -15°C. It is suitable for rougher climatic conditions, but it is not important to grow it only at worse areas. It is not good to grow the kale after kale or other turnip crops earlier than after 6 years (danger of root tumor diseases). The kale is grown mainly as a main crop after harvested winter mixtures, potatoes, perennial forages, etc. Good involved growths of the kale without weeds are good foregoing crops. The kale is nutrition-intensive, firstly nitrogen, it is largely exacting. The manure fertilization is very suitable. The kale is harvested gradually by the need of green forage from September to the end of November, sometimes longer.