It’s been quite a winter hasn’t it? Yet even rain does occasionally show off plants to their advantage. There are a few that seem designed to catch raindrops on their leaves and so it was this morning as I walked along the path next to our vegetable patch.
These can be rather dismal looking places in the middle of winter but hey ho, I looked down and saw the beautiful crinkly leaves of our Kalettes: deep slatey-green suffused with purple, dissected with pink veins and just sparkling after their morning shower.
Now, I am not a natural grower of edibles, I can just about cope with courgettes as they are so undemanding and I get a good crop without much effort, therefore it falls to my husband to be in charge of our vegetable patch. I had noticed and started buying Kalettes in our local supermarket a number of years ago, and they soon became a regular in my trolley as they’re such a versatile and tasty vegetable and packed with goodness! The next step was obvious – why not grow them ourselves?
Turns out, they not only look good and taste delicious, they seem to be quite easy to grow. My photo shows the top of the plants, and being a cross between kale and Brussels sprouts, the little Kalettes grow up the stem like miniature cabbages and they are so sweet – both to eat and to look at!
NB Louise has published a beautifully produced book of her plant profiles – A Plant for Each Week of the Year. It costs £9.99 and is for sale in our online shop here.
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One reply on “Kalettes or flower sprouts!”
Good on Louise!I have always adored Kalettes ever since reading about them.But they are so different and combine the best of both sprouts and kale flavours and the combo is delicious!And they cook and eat extremely well!they deserve more attention but equally are a fabulous new discovery!I wait for their coming each year at this time of year,most people don’t rush for them but I think they are one of our best kept secrets!So don’t tell everyone!