Other names
cavolo nero, Tuscan kale, lacinato kale, dinosaur kale
Botanical name
Brassica oleracea var. palmifolia DC.
Family / Genus
Brassicaceae / Brassica
Plant category
Cabbage vegetables
Black kale is similar to curly kale in terms of growing, appearance and taste. Unlike curly kale, though, it handles high summer temperatures well but is barely frost-hardy. The plant won't survive prolonged cold spells or temperatures below -5 degrees Celsius. No surprise there — the common name Tuscan kale already gives away its Mediterranean origins.
Thanks to its striking looks, you'll sometimes see it planted as an ornamental in large pots.
Facts and figures
Light requirements
Sun / partial shade
Nutrient requirements
Heavy feeder
Difficulty level
Easy
Culture (according to Gertrud Franck)
B - late
Culture (according to Sister C. Weinrich)
Main crop
Growing period
80 days
Row spacing
50 cm
Plant spacing
50 cm
Growth height
70 - 200 cm
Sowing depth
2 cm
Germination temperature (minimum)
3 °C
Germination temperature (optimal)
18 - 22 °C
Germination type
Light and dark
Pre-growing period
80 days
Planting & harvest times of Black kale
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Direct sowing
Pre-grow
Transplant
Harvest
Direct sowing from Mid May to Mid June. Transplant to bed from Mid May to Early July. Pre-grow about 80 days before transplanting, approximately between Late February and Mid April. After a growing period of 80 days, harvest can begin around Mid July and continues until Early November.
Good and bad companions of Black kale
Very good neighbours
Subterranean clover
Subterranean clover as an undersowing cut flea beetle damage by 66 percent in trials.
Good neighbours
Crimson clover
The clover's scent disrupts the orientation of cabbage root fly and cabbage white.
Cucumber
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Dill
Dill irritates cabbage white butterflies
Lamb's lettuce
I have read conflicting information about companion planting with brassicas. Share your experiences.
Radish
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
White clover
Flowering white clover undersowing confuses the cabbage white and reduces egg laying.
Bad neighbours
Courgette
Cabbage and courgettes are considered poor neighbours, though no reason is known. Next to cucumbers, on the other hand, cabbage has proved its worth.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Nasturtium
Nasturtiums attract cabbage white butterflies
Predecessors and successors of Black kale
Good predecessors
Alfalfa
Lasting effect: 3 years
Berseem clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Buckwheat
Lasting effect: 3 years
Common vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Crimson clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Hairy vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Lupin
Lasting effect: 3 years
Oats
Lasting effect: 3 years
Persian clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Phacelia
Phacelia does not host brassica pathogens and lowers clubroot pressure on the plot.
Lasting effect: 3 years
Radish
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Red clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Sainfoin
Lasting effect: 3 years
Soya bean
Lasting effect: 3 years
Subterranean clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Sunflower
Cabbage benefits from the deep loosening but also hosts white mould. Avoid where the disease is known on the plot.
Lasting effect: 3 years
White clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Winter rye
Heavy feeders thrive in loose, nutrient-rich soil
Lasting effect: 2 years
Bad predecessors
Black kale
Rotation break: 4 years
Brussels sprouts
Rotation break: 4 years
Flower Sprouts
Rotation break: 4 years
Garden cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Horseradish
Rotation break: 3 years
Kohlrabi
Rotation break: 4 years
Mizuna (Asian greens)
Rotation break: 3 years
Pak choi
Rotation break: 4 years
Pointed cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Rocket
important for large-scale cultivation.
negligible for strip cultivation of rocket.
Rotation break: 3 years
Savoy cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Spinach
Spinach itself is undamaged but multiplies beet cyst nematode strongly. Brassicas and beets suffer from it.
Rotation break: 3 years
Swede
Rotation break: 3 years
Turnip
Rotation break: 3 years
Winter cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Very bad predecessors
Broccoli
Broccoli and cavolo nero are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and swede midge. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Cauliflower
Cauliflower and cavolo nero are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and black rot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Chinese cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Kale
Kale and cavolo nero are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and black rot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Oil radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Red cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Romanesco
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
White cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Good successors
Alfalfa
Lasting effect: 3 years
Berseem clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Common vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Crimson clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Hairy vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Leek
Cabbage leaves a lot of crop residue whose nitrogen is released late. Leeks, as heavy feeders, make good use of it.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Parsnip
Lasting effect: 3 years
Persian clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Phacelia
Lasting effect: 3 years
Red clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Subterranean clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
White clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Winter rye
Winter rye helps to fix residual nitrogen, making it ideal for heavy feeders
Lasting effect: 1 year
Bad successors
Batavia lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Black kale
Rotation break: 4 years
Butterhead lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Carrot
Rotation break: 3 years
Cucumber
Cabbage is considered a poor preceding crop for cucumbers. Legumes, leeks, celery or a green manure suit them better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Flower Sprouts
Rotation break: 4 years
Garden cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Honeydew melon
Cabbage is considered a poor preceding crop for honeydew melons. Legumes, leeks, celery or a green manure with clover suit them better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Horseradish
Rotation break: 3 years
Iceberg lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Kohlrabi
Rotation break: 4 years
Lollo biando / Lollo rosso
Rotation break: 3 years
Melothria
Cabbage, tomatoes and sweet peppers are heavy feeders and are considered a poor previous crop for Melothria. Legumes, leeks, celery or lettuce suit it better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Mizuna (Asian greens)
Rotation break: 3 years
Oak leaf lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Onion
Cabbage leaves a lot of crop residue and nitrogen. Onions grown afterwards turn soft and store poorly.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Too much nitrogen for a sensitive successor
Pak choi
Rotation break: 4 years
Pointed cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Radish
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Rocket
important for large-scale cultivation.
negligible for strip cultivation of rocket.
Rotation break: 3 years
Romaine lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Sainfoin
High residual nitrogen suppresses nodulation. Weak-competing sainfoin is then overgrown by weeds.
Rotation break: 3 years
Salsify
roots grow poorly through the hard plant residues of previous crops
Rotation break: 3 years
Savoy cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Scorzonera
roots grow poorly through the hard plant residues of previous crops
Rotation break: 3 years
Shallot
Cabbage leaves a lot of crop residue and nitrogen. Shallots grown afterwards turn soft and store poorly.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Too much nitrogen for a sensitive successor
Swede
Rotation break: 3 years
Turnip
Rotation break: 3 years
Watermelon
Cabbage is considered a poor preceding crop for watermelons. Legumes, leeks, celery or a green manure with clover suit them better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Winter cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Very bad successors
Broccoli
Broccoli and cavolo nero are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and swede midge. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Brussels sprouts
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Cauliflower
Cauliflower and cavolo nero are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and black rot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Chinese cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Kale
Kale and cavolo nero are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and black rot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Oil radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Red cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Romanesco
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
White cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Care and fertilising
Regular feeding and above all a consistent water supply are key for good leaf development. Mulching with grass clippings helps a lot.
Diseases and pests
Susceptible to
Alternaria leaf spot of brassicas
Black rot
Cabbage aphid
Cabbage moth
Cabbage root fly
Cabbage whitefly
Cabbage whites
Clubroot
Diamondback moth
Downy mildew of brassicas
Flea beetles
Swede midge
White rust
Harvest and processing
You can start harvesting black kale from about 8 weeks after planting. The main harvest season, though, is in midsummer and early autumn. Black kale doesn't need a touch of frost like curly kale — it tastes great without it. Pick the leaves from the bottom upwards. Over time, this makes the plant look more and more like a little palm tree.
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