Hail to kale

Although kale can be grown all year round, it really comes into its own once the temperature drops. Thriving even in frost, it can withstand lows of -15°C so can be harvested right through the winter. 

This leafy green belongs to the brassica family and is the leafier cousin of cabbage and swede. Cultivated for its nutrient-rich green leaves, it's become known as a super-food as it contains high levels of Vitamins A, K and C. 

But its popularity stretches well beyond recent times as it's been grown for food since at least 600BC. It was first cultivated from wild varities by the Greeks and Romans, and later spread throughout Europe. 

Kale is very easy to grow - it'll still thrive even in limited space on a balcony. A variety of kale called 'dwarf curled' grows around 60cm but will produce masses of leaves for you to add to winter soups or stews. 

The seeds can also be sown like rocket or spinach, and the baby leaves eaten in salads and smoothies. 

The plants will also tolerate high temperatures as proven this summer when we experienced 36°C in the Kitchen Garden, but droughts will affect the taste of the leaves and make them more bitter.  

Pigeons love kale, so in the Kitchen Garden, we grow kale under our netted cage for protection. 

Apart from protection from pigeons if they're an issue, kale will ocassionally suffer from aphids and white fly. I use a horticultural soap and remove them by hand, but you can also simply remove the infected leaves. 

In the Kitchen Garden this year, I've experimented with some different varieties. 

I grew a variety called 'reflex', which has dark green curly leaves, and also 'scarlet' which has beautiful dark red leaves and adds a lovely colour to winter dishes. 

I also experimented with 'east fresian palm kale' which has grown into a giant. It's a very hardy heritage kale with delicious curled leaves, originating in North Germany - it's grown to nearly 2 meters high! 

• One cup of chopped kale has more Vitamin C than an orange
• Its cultivation in the UK was encouraged during World War ll because it provided vital nutrients and was needed to supplement rationing 
• Frost gives kale a sweeter taste. Kale reacts to cold conditions by producing sugars, which makes the leaves sweeter 

Try growing these tasty greens at home with this awesome dinosaur kale seed kit.