Growing Lacinato “Dinosaur” Kale

My first attempt at growing this beautiful and unusual kale and been a sweet success

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Each class I grow something new in myveggie garden , in improver to novel variety of crop I ’ve grown before . This year , kale was at the top of the list . Not just anykale . The most unique and visually stunning kale I know of—”dinosaur ” kale . It is also known as Tuscan kale , Tuscan scratch , Italian cole , black kale , palm Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree kale , et al . The sobriquet dinosaur kale refers to this variety , because the bumpy control surface of its leaves is read to resemble dinosaur peel . Like otherkalevarieties , dinosaur colewort is super alimentary , by having more than 100 percent of the daily value of vitamins K and A.

Growing Dinosaur Kale

I started the seed in other February , and as with all other type ofbrassicas , they germinated in no time ( 3 - 4 days ) . I eagerly awaited the first set of “ on-key ” leaves . As mentioned before , it is the leaf that make this such a striking plant to search at .

I was really quite impressed with how quickly the transplanting develop . This was certainly due to the regular feedings of melted Pisces and seaweed fertilizer they were getting every week or so . After the transplants had at least 3 pairs of firm true leaves , it was time to be put into their unexampled domicile . They were about 6 - 8 inch grandiloquent at this full point , and were about to shatter the yogurt cup containers they were in . They had also been hardened off for over a week , so I knew they were quick for primetime .

The nightlong temperature at the clock time were still dally with the freeze grade , so even though I know they could tolerate the cold , I did n’t need to happen it . Toprotectthem , I drive a 5 - 6 foundation objet d’art of cattle fencing wire and curved it into an archway . To this I cover with regular frost cloth fabric . Bricks kept it from blowing off . I made two rows of them , and the industrial plant were spaced about a foot apart .

I continued to be instill as to how tight they were growing . At some point , around two weeks after I transfer them , it was fourth dimension to replace the icing cloth with my preferred pest covering , tulle screen cloth . This has been my primary arm against the arch nemesis of cole crops , the cabbage worm . It does n’t stop every sort of pest ( likeaphids ) , but it ’s act upon really well otherwise .

Through the last few hebdomad , I ’ve watched the industrial plant produce so marvellous that they are going above the curved fence book binding . They ’ve been watered moderately regularly , and foliar / ground fed with the fish and seaweed aforementioned . I ca n’t seriously remember having this much chance with a plant I ’ve never grow before !

They are now full - grown and it ’s clock time for the right part — chips ! This has been the main reason for me to trykale . Something tells me that this veggie is going to earn a permanent berth in my Victory Garden .

Dinosaur Kale Chips

• One lot dinosaur kale• Olive oil• Sea salt• Pepper• Baking sheet• Parchment paper

1 . Pre - hot up the oven to 275 ° F.2 . Wash the scratch thoroughly and pat juiceless with paper towels.3 . take away the shopping mall rib and put away them into your compost pile.4 . In a bowl , drizzle with olive oil and season lightly with salinity and Piper nigrum . Toss to coat.5 . mountain the leaf on a parchment lined broil flat solid and stage the leaves in a individual layer so they will blackguard evenly.6 . Roast in the oven for 10 minutes . move out from oven and turn leaves over . Roast for 10 minutes more.7 . function and bask !

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All photos: Greg Holdsworth

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