Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) (Curly kale)

Botanical name

Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group)

Other names

Borecole, Ornamental cabbage, Ornamental kale, Brassica oleracea var acephala , Curly kale, Brassica oleracea var. sabellica, Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) 'Sabellica'

Genus

Brassica Brassica

Species

B. oleracea (Acephala Group) - B. oleracea (Acephala Group) are vegetable or ornamental plants forming a rosette of short, thick stalks bearing large crinkled or rounded, sometimes brightly coloured leaves.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Rosette

---

Colour

Flower

Insignificant or absent in Summer

Foliage

Blue-green in All seasons

---

How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Ants , Aphids , Cabbage caterpillars , Cabbage whitefly , Thrips

Diseases

Reduce risk of disease by rotating crops. Do not plant in soil that has grown cabbages in the past 3-4 years.

Specific diseases

Downy mildew , Leaf spot

General care

Pruning

Remove young leaves from the top of the plant in mid-autumn to produce sideshoots. The entire plant can be harvested or leaves can be cropped, leaving the bud to grow new leaves. For fall crops, leaves exposed to a frost tend to be sweeter.

Propagation methods

Seed

---

Monthly care advice

---

Where to grow

Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) (Curly kale) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 1-2 years.

Suggested uses

Beds and borders, Containers, Foliage only, Instant, Low Maintenance, Underplanting

Cultivation

Plant in neutral to alkaline, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. For edible varieties, sow seed as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Can be sown in autumn for spring harvest if covered with straw in winter. Treat as an annual or biennial.

Soil type

Clay, Loamy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) (Curly kale)

Common pest name

Cassava whitefly; Cotton whitefly; Sweet potato whitefly; Tobacco whitefly

Scientific pest name

Bemisia tabaci non-European populations

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Non-European populations of Bemisia tabaci pose an additional risk to European populations due to the potential for introducing non-European viruses.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) (Curly kale)

Common pest name

Apple root knot nematode

Scientific pest name

Meloidogyne mali

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Unknown

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

UK (along with certain other European countries) received potentially infested trees in 1992; but these were destroyed at the end of the trial period and targeted surveillance has failed to find any trace of the nematode. Main impacts are on elm; apple and mulberry and industry should source such material carefully.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) (Curly kale)

Common pest name

Leaf spot: ginseng; Leaf spot: ornamentals

Scientific pest name

Alternaria panax

Type

Fungus

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

A leaf spot disease; some commonly grown pot plants are hosts but main damage is to ginseng.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/