Sowing and Growing Kalettes

Kalettes Overview

Kalettes are a delightful cross between Brussels sprouts and kale, developed through natural crossing techniques—no GM involved. Like Brussels sprouts, they grow on the stem of the plant, and both the mature leaves and the kalette tops are equally tasty.

Growing Timeline

• Sow: March or April
• Prick Out: Into 6-cell trays
• Plant Out: Early May/June, after hardening off for a week
• Spacing: 60-80 cm apart
• Light Requirements: Full sun or partial shade
• Frost Tolerance: Yes, but protect early seedlings from high winds when possible
• Watering: Water seedlings, then provide 1 inch every two weeks during drought
• Protection: Use butterfly netting and provide support from July onwards
• Harvesting: Leaves can be harvested from July; kalettes from November to April

Why Grow Kalettes?

Wellies and Waxjackets believes kalettes excel in various categories when considering what to grow:

1. Taste: Kalettes offer a unique flavour, arguably the best among the brassica family.
2. Health Benefits: They are extremely nutritious, potentially healthier than both Brussels sprouts and kale combined.
3. Availability: Kalettes are often expensive and hard to find in shops.
4. Exceptional Harvest: They produce an impressive yield, especially the flower sprouts available from October to March.
5. Organic Options: Rarely found in organic varieties in shops, which is a drawback.

 

Planting Quantity

The number of kalettes to grow depends on personal preference. Ideally, a single plant can provide enough flower sprouts for one person over a month, with an average harvest lasting about four months. Thus, four plants per person is a good rule of thumb, which equates to around 1m² per person.

Sowing Kalettes

Kalettes are best sown in early to mid-March, with a second sowing possible in early April for a later but smaller harvest. Growing large plants is essential, so adequate time is necessary.

Sowing Method

Kalettes are sown similarly to other brassicas. Fill a pot with compost, level the surface, sprinkle several seeds, and cover them with 1 cm of compost. Germination occurs within a week at around 18°C.

Pricking Out Kalettes

Seedlings are typically pricked out when they reach 1-2 inches tall, before developing true leaves. Use care when handling the seedlings and ensure the stem is buried up to the leaves when transplanting into a 6-cell module tray filled with potting compost.

Planting Location

Kalettes thrive in full sun but can tolerate light shade. Optimal growth conditions include neutral or slightly alkaline soil enriched with well-rotted manure, poultry pellets, or compost.

Ground Preparation

To prepare the ground for kalettes, follow these steps:

1. Plant field beans in the brassica bed over winter for nitrogen enrichment.
2. Firm the soil using a rake or foot traffic, avoiding compaction on sandy soils.
3. Ensure the ground is well-watered prior to planting.
4. Apply necessary soil amendments, such as lime or poultry manure pellets.
5. Finish with a 1-2 inch mulch of spent mushroom compost for moisture retention.

Planting Process

When planting kalettes, maintain sufficient spacing of 60-80 cm apart, though wider spacing can allow for creative interplanting, such as with red cabbages or Calabrese.

Kalettes should be planted in early or late May, ideally after the last frost date. Young plants often perform better than larger ones.

1. Choose a cloudy day or evening for planting.
2. Water the modules with a nematode solution to deter cabbage root fly.
3. Inspect leaves for pests before planting.
4. Firm the ground before making planting holes deep enough to bury any exposed stem.
5. Add concentrated farmyard manure to the hole before planting.
6. Fill the hole with water and allow it to drain before placing the plant inside.
7. Refill with soil and mulch around the plant, watering it in and applying netting for protection.

Watering

The golden rule for watering kalettes is to do so well but infrequently. After initial planting, wait up to two weeks before the next watering to encourage deep root growth, followed by regular watering only if rainfall is inadequate.

Supporting the Plants

Given their height and leaf area, kalettes may require support to withstand strong winds. We suggest using fence pins for netting support, which should be adjusted as the plants grow.

Netting Considerations

Wellies and Waxjackets has experimented with different net types and found that using a butterfly net strikes a balance between protecting the plants from pests while allowing beneficial insects and visibility for monitoring.

Managing the Plants

Once July arrives, netting can be removed, and plants may need staking. Lower leaves can be pruned to improve airflow and reduce disease, although retaining some leaves can encourage earlier flower sprout development. A nitrogen boost in October can also benefit growth.

Cold Weather Resilience

Kalettes are hardy through winter, thriving in temperatures rarely dropping below -6°C. They sweeten after a frost and can recover from cold conditions.

Harvesting Kalettes

Kalettes offer an extended harvest window from July to April. In July, the lower leaves can be harvested, followed by flower sprouts maturing in October/November.

After flower sprouts are harvested, the tops can also be picked, which encourages further sprout growth along the stem. Even after the main harvest, smaller sprouts may appear in February and March.

Post-Harvest Care

Kalettes are easy to clean post-harvest, requiring a quick rinse to remove pests and dirt. Soaking them in cold water for 30 minutes helps revive the leaves, especially after exposure to frost or wind.

Cooking Kalettes

Kalettes can be simply steamed, but various cooking methods are available to explore their versatility.

Pest Management

Kalettes are generally less susceptible to pests compared to other brassicas, but they can still encounter issues with cabbage aphids and whiteflies. Wellies and Waxjackets employs a staged approach to pest control, focusing on early detection and simple remedies like water jets and soapy solutions.

Companion Planting

Field beans are highly recommended for planting before kalettes, enriching the soil with nitrogen while providing an edible crop.

Following Kalettes

Once kalettes are cleared in late March or early April, they can be followed by crops such as carrots or winter squash, making the most of the enriched soil.