COUVE TRONCHUDA SEEDS

Brassica oleracea var. tronchuda

This big voluptuous Brassica is the star of the famous Portuguese Caldo Verde, along with sausage, garlic, onions and potatoes. More tender than kale or collards, both the huge velvety leaves and white midribs are uniquely delicious.

Couve Tronchuda is likewise dissimilar to our familiar kale and collards in that it does not benefit from frost. This is a plant that you start in spring and harvest throughout summer and autumn, and scurry to gather leaves before the first hard freeze. Plants do sometimes persist beneath snowcover, but kale is much more suitable for winter use where snow fall is not a given.

Exceptionally large plants need plenty of space in the garden. Give them a wide berth, at least 1' in every direction. These beasts do not head, but rather splay unabashedly in all directions. This habit does give them some ornamental value, as proven by Nancy Ondra, and one plant might be plenty for the Brassica-shy.

Start indoors in early spring: sow seeds just below surface of moist soil; press gently and mist generously with warm water; kept warm (70F) and moist in bright light, seeds will germinate within a week typically. Prick out seedlings once they have true leaves to grow on in individual 3" pots. Water frequently and provide a weekly dose of dilute fish-based fertilizer. Transplant into the garden after the last spring frost. Like all Brassicas, this plant will benefit from heavily amended and mulched soil.

Packet contains around 100 seeds.