Oldenburg

We sowed seeds of Oldenburg kale in June 2023, subsequently harvesting individual leaves from mature plants through the autumn and into the winter of 2024. By the end of February, the tips of the plants’ main stems stopped producing new leaves and started to develop bouquets of buds resembling those of purple sprouting broccoli.
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Since they looked good enough to eat, we decided to harvest the tips, which we did on 29 February (yes, it was a leap year). They were snapped off the main stems by hand, and included the buds, the small young leaves growing below the buds, and the tiny side shoots sprouting from the nodes (the part of the stems where the leaves are attached). Over all, the tips were more or less 10 to 12cm long, and the 13 plants in our nursery provided enough for 2 generous or 3 modest portions when served with a whole meal.
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The tips were then cooked in a pan of boiling water, and eaten with salt and butter. And what a treat they were – tender, tasty and attractive.