ORNAMENTAL CABBAGE AND KALE

Cheryl Maynard, KC Master Gardener 2003

After the mums have bloomed, the beautiful fall foliage in your garden and on the mountains is gone and the flower beds are ready for their winter rest, there’s still a way to have some color. Try planting ornamental cabbage or ornamental kale for cool weather color and texture or as a container display.

Both ornamental cabbage and kale are classified as Brassica oleracea. This is the same as edible cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower. However, these ornamentals are better for coloring the garden with their decorative foliage than eating. Ornamental cabbage develops large rosettes of gray-green foliage with variegated cream, white, pink, rose and purple. The leaves are ruffled and don’t form a tight head. Ornamental kale leaves are more frilly and fancy.

Neither plant will tolerate the summer heat. However, both plants are extremely cold tolerant. They can survive in temperatures as low as 5 degrees F.  Leaf color intensifies on both ornamental cabbage and kale after a frost or two. In our region, these plants are usually attractive until Thanksgiving. Cabbage and kale need full sun in a moderately moist and rich soil.

These versatile plants can also be dug up and transplanted into pots for indoor use. The length of time the plants will survive inside varies, depending on room temperature. Inside, they require bright light, a cool room and moist soil. Plants will need to be pulled up or discarded when they start smelling like cooked cabbage, either inside or outside.

A perfect time for planting ornamental cabbage and kale is mid to late October. The colors which the plants are noted for do not appear until after several frosts or extended cool weather. Another advantage is that if the plants are root bound, they will not increase in size, even after being planted in the ground or to a larger pot. An additional plus is that there is no worry of cab-bageworms, cutworms, aphids or slugs.

Ornamental cabbage and kale leaves can be eaten either raw or cooked. Frost and cool weather add to the flavor of the leaves. However, the roots should not be eaten.

Those wishing to grow plants from seed should sow seeds as early as late July or early August. They can be sown into a six or eight-inch pot or started in smaller pots and transplanted. Seeds may also be sown into a garden directly. For more information on growing from seed, please refer to the websites below.

Make your garden last a little longer with ornamental cabbage and kale. The colors and textures of these plants will brighten up your late fall and early winter season, both indoors and out.

References:

http://www.ext.vt.edu/index.html

http://www.oagc.org/ornamental_cabbage_and_kale_brig.htm

http://www.gardensablaze.com/AnnualsOrnCabbage.htm

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/kale.html

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/gardening/garden/03900007.shtml