Cavolo Nero – RIP

My allotment comprises 16 square metres of land and so everything growing there has to be held accountable. Perform, or else!

Then just once in a while I meet an over-performer. In this case my Cavolo Nero (also known as black cabbage, Tuscan Cabbage, Tuscan Kale, Lacinato and dinosaur Kale)

I have been cutting at this kale for months, more than I can eat, so much has been blanched and is now deposited in my food bank (i.e. the freezer in the garage).

Which brings me to the point of today’s post. I made the painful decision early this morning that the time had come.  From the original five plants I still had two left, still producing valiantly, but home to more pests than I could control.

The kindest thing was to make the final cut. Out they came, and I moved them over to the area where Peter will now put them through the mulcher and they will live again via our compost heap.

In memory of happier times. Here is a photo taken at their peak.

These plants have been heavy feeders so all that remains for me to do now is to feed the soil where they have spent the last few months. I’ll add plenty of organic matter and give the bed a bit of a rest while the worms do their stuff.

Happy gardening.