Perennial Kale - Propagation Notes

Edible Acres is a full service permaculture nursery located in the Finger Lakes area of NY state. We grow all layers of perennial food forest systems and provide super hardy, edible, useful, medicinal, easy to propagate, perennial plants for sale locally or for shipping around the country…
Happy growing!

[johnrriggs]

You are so patient and loving with your resident garden crusher. They way you interact with all your animals is an inspiration for me when dealing with my own garden destroyers. Lol.

[niamhfox]

Jethro is a seedling stress tester, making sure only the strongest survive. I had an indoor professional orchid leaf tenderiser working with me for years, every orchid had teeth marks along the edges. Very decorative.

[blenderbenderguy]

You two are the homiest (a good thing), most down to earth sharing & caring folks on youtube. I always, always enjoy your videos! Thank you for everything that you do and share!

[PleasantPrickles]

Looking forward to seeing Jethro in more videos! Love his personality. Side note, great propagation video! 🌱🌱🌱🌱😃🐾

[redpillnibbler]

The cat gave the cuttings energy which helped them root well 👍

[rosehavenfarm]

The "filthy fingernail" technique is my preferred method, too.

My grandfather was able to take a cutting, push the stick half-way into soul, and get it to live. It was amazing.

[beckymay]

I’d like more information on how to propagate a Jethro please. He’s awesome. 💖

[tim]

Another great video. I liked the ending where you show how you prepare the kale. I like to see the different ways of preparation. Thanks for sharing!

[heatherlewis]

Jethro we thank you for your services!!

[anoushkaarmstrong]

your kitty loves you and cares for what you care for too ;-> classic !!! and of course, the BEST of spots would be the soft box...he knows !!! definitely a stamp of approval !!! i came to check if the kale is propagatable as you showed- it is a delight to come away with a smile on my heart !!!! thank you for including him !!!

[katherinefritz]

A kitty other then Stanley making an appearance. So sweet. Cant wait to try my hand at perennial Kale. Thanks for sharing your notes.

[lauralindsay]

Perennial kale... you guys just made my month! Thank you 💙💙💙

[MrSnaveRevilo]

Thanks for the inspiration! I have a vigorous kale that's lasted a number of years with zero attention or water in one of my gardens here in Sonoma County, CA. I've taken 16 cuttings off it (it had lots having resprouted off large stalks). Excited to see how they take, and replant in my workplace garden since I don't have any seed saved!

[thehillsidegardener]

So in the UK there are two traditional varieties of perennial kale that are best-known: Taunton Deane and Daubenton. They don't seem to reproduce sexually at all, solely by cuttings, and they grow into something akin to what you might call a tree collard. What I wonder is, whether brassicas can actually be encouraged to perennialise by constantly cloning them in this way. I have kales - I think a Nero di Toscana, and maybe a Red Russian, too, that have survived several winters and summers now without completing their lifecycle, I don't know why, maybe it's our very hot summer that prevents them. I plan to take cuttings of these, I find the idea of a perennial brassica quite appealing, but not all are equally frost-hardy. I've found the Red Russian to survive frosts that killed all the rest, ideally we would select for this trait like you are, to avoid them getting completely killed off in winter. The UK perennial kales survive in "tree" form throughout winter, though UK winters are mild, it has to be said.

[SKHRLife]

That is the way I cook my kale, stir fry for breakfast daily. We love it

[rosewood]

I just purchased seeds; I hope they grow. Jethro is adorable, I see he likes to nip, do not be angry that light nipping shows affection. My boy does it but I do not like it and gently make him stop. Thank you for this nice video. I have been wanting to grow Perennial kale for some time.

[mgoldfield]

The UK channels I watch grow this plant; I assumed we couldn’t grow this in NY. Very happy to hear I’ve been wrong and will be growing this starting next spring. Thank you!

[TheEmbrio]

Gardening with cats sure builds patience ! But they are so darn cute

[katherinefritz]

Ordered some seeds. Very excited to try them out

[nathanchristopher]

I've been growing and propagating Purple Tree Collards (one variety of perennial kale) for ~4 years now in a hot arid summer + mild wet winter climate and I have found the same ease of propagating, abundance of year-round production, deep flavor, resistance to becoming bitter in hot dry weather. Really so many fantastic qualities to these perennial kales. I grow a polyculture of Sunchoke, Artichoke, and Tree Collards here with assorted other ground covers like Selfheal, White Clover, and Strawberry which has been a great way to fill mulched beds for like 5 years while the woody perennials get established and growing... though managing the Sunchokes with the woody perennials growing in is still a trick I'm mastering.