We have many variety of vegetables that we grow for the first time last cool season and some were introduced by our local seed-savers group. One of the vegetables that we tried growing for the first time during last cool season was Nero Black Kale. Although it was a new plant in the garden, I totally neglected it and was growing on one of the shades part of the garden in winter. It did not get any special treatment and exposed to pest. This is one plant you can experiment to try growing in partial shade~shade if you want to fully utilised your gardening space.
Nero Black Kale seedlings.
In winter growing so slowly in shade.
It will be lucky if it received 1 hour direct sunlight during sunny days at this corner. Nero Black kale growing along with cineraria.
Spring came with more light and those kale pick up growth very quickly.
Totally growing in shade.
Did not want to waste the extra seedlings we had.
They do grow albeit rather slowly like my thesis writing.
At least they do provide some harvest for our kitchen harvest.
We don't have fresh harvest much this week.
Probably will be relying on frozen veggie stock now.
Nero Black kale came to rescue with fresh harvest.
The first time we harvest those leaves.
Yellow currant cherry tomatoes still plenty to harvest.
Mark ask me several time about this yellow currant cherry tomato.
I found that the skin thickness of this yellow currant cherry tomatoes varies in cool and warm season. During the warm season, this variety of cherry tomatoes is more acidic and skin are much thicker. However, in cool season this tomato skin is very thin and less acidic or more sweeter. We enjoyed the flavour of this tomato more during cooler months/weeks. It starting to be over 30 degree Celsius during the day now. I have noticed that suddenly this tomato skin become much thicker the same as last summer experience. So as a student of science, my hypothesis is that temperature can be one of the main factor that influence the thickness of this tomato skin. Adaptation to different temperatures in different season makes this tomato very draught and cold hardy compared to other varieties of cherry tomatoes that we grow. If I remember correctly, tomatoes were originally yellow in colour. So it is one of the tomatoes you might want to keep over winter as the flavour is best in cooler weather. I think last winter, that plant has gone through at least 2 degree Celsius. It does reallyX3 well in partial shade. So don't have to sacrifice your sunny spot for this tomato plant.
How did we enjoyed our first Nero Black Kale?
In case you are wondering, did not have problem with lumps.
My cousin made it and follow the recipe accordingly.
Now, Rayyan been eating polenta occasionally.
We will be sending chervil seeds to author of these wonderful blogs:
Hope to receive your postbox mail address (diana.demiyah@gmail.com)
Have a great weekend!
