I have never seen this before. Thanks for the info. Did you buy the seeds on line?

Yes, I bought seeds on line. Tiny seeds so if you buy a package you get tons of seed.

Ok thanks. Looks like it grows more mannerly than kale.

Kale tastes terrible!

This plant was growing all over my town's community garden last summer, both in and around the raised beds! I tried to ID it via online photos, but was unable to do so definitively, even though I had guessed it was a cruciferous variety. I'm so glad to know what it is now-drove me crazy all summer ! Do you know if the seed winters over? We had an Asian couple in the community garden last summer, but they did not plant it and were unsure of the plant's identity.
Rita...kale is tasteless in smoothies, and great in stir fries. It's the seasonings that makes the difference. Also, Costco has a fairly new packaged salad in the cold produce room called "Sweet Baby Kale Salad" It is to die for--even my green food avoidant friends love it!
Thanks for this post!

I tried stir fried kale and it was from my own garden. That was the first and last year I will be growing kale. Don't like it at all.

Tatsoi will not overwinter. It should not be left to set seed so you need to plant new each year. The seeds are really tiny, like lettuce seeds but really easy to start.

Kale is a cold season plant. If you tried to eat it before a frost had matured the leaves it probably wouldn't taste very good.

Here is a little about harvesting kale:

http://www.ehow.com/how_455064...

Ive found a good way to preserve kale is to dehydrate it. Then use the leaves as chips or toss them in winter stews or soups.

Yep, I ate my kale during the summer months!

http://www.realsimple.com/food...

And here's 10 kale recipes to get you started on cold weather eating. (!)

Thanks for the thought but I am not going to plant kale again. I know it is really healthy but I will just skip it.

Found 3 new vege recipes for me though...thanks!

>> Do you know if the seed winters over?

It wouldn't surprise me if it reseeds, but I haven't tried it. The plant itself is very cold hardy (or, at least, many cultivars advertise that). Someone might have let it keep going through several frosts to get some fall harvests, and then forgotten it. If it's like several other Brassicas that I "let go", it might go to seed in very early spring and then drop a TON of seeds.


I don't know how different various tatsoi varieties are from each orher, but here are a few sources:

With Kitazawa, you just have to know to ask for the small packet, which is usually $2 for a "scoop", which is often 2 grams.

Kitazawa Seeds - regular green tatsoi
http://www.kitazawaseed.com/se...

Kitazawa Seeds - savoyed green tatsoi
http://www.kitazawaseed.com/se...

Kitazawa Seeds - red-violet tatsoi
http://www.kitazawaseed.com/se...

Evergreen Seeds
http://www.evergreenseeds.com/... (Tah Tsai Tatsoi)
http://www.evergreenseeds.com/... (Korean Red Tatsoi)

Cherry Gal
http://www.cherrygal.com/asian...

UK: Nicky's Nursery
http://www.nickys-nursery.co.u...

Mine that I grew last year did not reseed but then I didn't let it have flowers!

I only ONCE got seeds on a Brassica the same year that I planted it. Usually if I'm hoping for seeds, they just hold through our mild WA coast winter and then burst into bloom and seed the next spring.

Here is a Brassica that went that way:
Spigariello Liscia
Broccolo Spigariello
Brassica oleracea var. 'Spigariello'

Chinese kale tastes alot better. I think I will try the tatsio this year. I am glad I have this reminder.

When you say "Chinese kale", do you mean
gai lan = gai-ln = kailaan = Brassica oleracea (Alboglabra Group) = Chinese Broccoli ?

If so, do you eat the leaves as well as the stems?
Do you have to peel a tough layer off the stems before cooking them?

http://www.kitazawaseed.com/se...
http://www.tainongseeds.com/ga...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K...

Chinese Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra)

Chinese Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra 'Green Lance')

I just eat the leaves and tender stems. I am not sure what variety I have. If I find the seed packet, I will let you know

Thanks very much !