Tuscan Black Kale Seeds

• Tuscan Black Kale
• The Tuscan black kale Plant
• How to Sow Tuscan Black Kale
• How to Grow Tuscan Black Kale
• Tips for Tuscan Black Kale
• Diseases and Pests of Tuscan Black Kale
• Uses and Curiosities of Tuscan Black Kale

Tuscan Black Kale

Tuscan Black Kale, also known as Lacinato kale, dinosaur kale or cavolo palmizio, is an ancient, hardy variety tied for centuries to Tuscan farming tradition, with roots going back to Etruscan times. It's prized for its long, dark, blistered leaves with a rich, distinctive flavor.

The Tuscan black kale Plant

It belongs to Brassica oleracea var. acephala, meaning headless: unlike other cabbages, the plant doesn't form a compact head but grows an upright stem with long, narrow, elongated leaves covered in a distinctive blistered texture, spreading out almost horizontally. It's considered a primitive variety, only lightly shaped by generations of selective breeding compared to other cabbages.

How to Sow Tuscan Black Kale

To enjoy a winter harvest, sow between June and August, either directly in the field or in seedbeds, transplanting about a month later. Prepare the soil a few weeks in advance, working it deeply and enriching it with mature compost or pelleted manure to supply the nutrients the plants need.

How to Grow Tuscan Black Kale

It prefers loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Watering should be consistent, applied directly to the soil rather than the leaves to avoid fungal disease. It's an extremely hardy plant, tolerating cold down to -10°C, with frost actually improving quality, making the leaves more tender and flavorful.

Tips for Tuscan Black Kale

Mulching helps keep weeds down and the soil consistently moist, reducing how often you need to water. Taller, more productive plants may benefit from staking, along with a nitrogen feed during the growing phase to encourage strong leaf development.

Diseases and Pests of Tuscan Black Kale

The main threats are downy mildew, favored by warm, humid conditions and best managed with preventive copper-based treatments, and cabbage worms, which feed on the leaves and can be controlled with natural pyrethrum-based insecticides.

Uses and Curiosities of Tuscan Black Kale

Tuscan Black Kale is the star ingredient of the famous Tuscan ribollita, alongside beans, stale bread and seasonal vegetables, but it also works beautifully in soups, minestrone and pan-fried side dishes. For centuries it was considered not just a food but also a folk remedy, used in poultices and herbal decoctions.