I am officially impressed with Ethiopian kale.
This year we planted multiple beds with this variety of kale that’s supposedly more suited to the Florida climate… and found out it was indeed a better kale for Florida.
Most kales thrive during the cool time of the year, but Ethiopian kale keeps on kicking:
Ethiopian kale is a potentially perennial (but not here, we’ve discovered) cousin of the kales we normally grow in the winter and early spring. My friends Rick and Mart both hooked me up with seeds this last year and we’ve been quite impressed with how well they’ve done in the garden. It’s a great green and grows to a solid 4′ tall.
Raw, Ethiopian kale has a mustardy kick to it that’s a little zingy for my taste but still fits well into a salad. I really like them sauteed in home-rendered lard with scrambled eggs. That’s a good breakfast.
It’s hard to find seeds for this plant but I hope to have some to share in a month or so. It can handle both cold and heat making it an excellent addition to the Florida garden.
Insects haven’t been much of a problem with these. I’ve also heard from Rick that they’re prolific self-seeders. Next year I’m going to plant them all over the food forest and see if they’ll naturalize.
If you can find seeds, grow them.
11 responses to “Ethiopian Kale: A Tougher Breed of Kale”
You will have to let us know how they do for you, David. I tried Kale when we first moved to the farm and they did alright but, after that they didn't do as well. If these take off well for you, would you save a few seeds for me to buy? I'd love to try some.
I'll get you some, most definitely.
Mine are so prolific that one single plant will produce thousands of seeds (no, make that thousands of seed *pods*). My largest one grew to almost 7 feet tall, loaded down with seed pods. They most definitely like central Florida's temperate climate.
Rick
Aww yeah.
I was given some seeds from my neighbor last year and planted a couple in my backyard garden here in SW Florida and the darned things are sprouting up everywhere. I’ve been making salads with the stuff and it really is a wonderful addition. They do produce seeds by the gazillion and will pop up whether you want them or not. I’ve decided to be happy with the unexpected bounty.
I remember being disappointed last year because they bolted sooner then I expected so it will be interesting to see how this batch does.
Yes – definitely prolific self-seeders.
My Ethiopian kale is delicious. All gone to flower now on my seed garden. The bees just love them and so does my hubby
I did an experiment and let several plants go to seed. I hung them upside down on my fence to dry and let the birds peck at the pods and spread the seeds. now our entire fence is lined with the plant. I think technically it’s a mustard green vs. a kale. Anyway it tastes great and keeps coming back every year and makes great edible and decorative landscape. The fence keeps it partially shaded/cooler so it doesn’t bolt as quickly.
That is fantastic. What a great idea. My kind of gardening.
[…] Ethiopian Kale, which is native to East and North Africa, looks nearly identical to the types of kale eaten in the west. However, Ethiopian Kale is much hardier and resistant to disease and pests. It has been grown and eaten in East and North Africa for thousands of years, but has been making its way over to the Western part of the world because of its hardiness. […]
I’m growing this for the first time and am very happy to hear it may naturalise in my garden. the chooks love it. it doesn’t seem to need much attention, I give it some weed tea now and again. If it gets a caterpillar I hack the affected parts off for the chooks, bonus for them.