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Brassica oleracea Winterbor F1 - Curly Kale

Brassica oleracea var. sabellica Winterbor F1
Curly Kale

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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

More information

This curly kale, with vigorous growth and resistant to running to seed, develops large, intensely curly and cut leaves of a beautiful blue-green colour. Particularly cold-resistant and productive until winter, it offers an abundant harvest of tender leaves, rich in taste and nutrients. It is a staple of autumn and winter vegetable gardens. A  useful and decorative vegetable that can be grown in pots on the balcony or patio.
Ease of cultivation
Beginner
Height at maturity
80 cm
Spread at maturity
30 cm
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Moist soil
Best planting time April
Recommended planting time March to June
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Harvest time January to March, July to December
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Description

'Winterbor' F1 kale is a hybrid kale variety renowned for its cold resistance and high yield throughout autumn and winter. Selected for its vigour, this kale forms a beautiful clump of decorative, blue-green curly foliage that is tasty and nutritious. Suitable for growing in open ground or in a pot, 'Winterbor' adapts to many recipes: its tender young leaves can be eaten raw, while older leaves are easily cooked in soups, stir-fries or bakes. An essential for the winter vegetable garden, hardy, ornamental and bountiful!

'Winterbor' F1 kale is a hybrid kale cultivar, a horticultural selection of the species Brassica oleracea, included in the varieties var. sabellica, within the Acephala horticultural group. It is a cabbage that does not form a head (kale). Although botanically biennial, it is usually grown as an annual. It produces no offshoots, and its growth slows greatly after the second-year flowering. Originating from a Dutch cross-breeding, 'Winterbor' is known for its finely crinkled blue-green foliage and its ability to produce abundantly from 60 days after sowing or transplanting. The plant has an upright and vigorous habit. It reaches a height of 60 to 90 cm and a diameter of 30 to 40 cm, or even more under optimal conditions. The foliage is dense, with regular production of new leaves. The leaves are dark blue-green, very curly, thick, yet tender. After experiencing cold, they develop a marked sweetness, particularly sought after in winter. This variety can withstand temperatures down to –15 °C to –18 °C in open ground, even more under cover or with mulch. 

Harvest leaf by leaf, taking the largest leaves from the base, which stimulates regrowth. The taste of kale improves after a few frosts, as its leaves become sweeter and more tender.

Storage: this kale can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator, but to get the most vitamins, consume it quickly after harvesting. It freezes very well after being blanched for 3 minutes in salted boiling water.

In cooking, 'Winterbor' lends itself to various preparations. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or smoothies, despite a slight bitterness. Mature leaves are better suited to gentle cooking: sautéed, in gratins, in soup, or as oven-baked crisps.  This kale, appreciated in Europe and North America, is traditionally used in Dutch cuisine with accompaniments such as rookworst and mashed potatoes. And if you really lack inspiration, there are several recipe books solely dedicated to this very special kale.

From a nutritional point of view, 'Winterbor' kale is a true powerhouse of vitality. Rich in vitamins A, C and K, it also contains calcium, potassium, iron, fibre, and powerful antioxidants such as carotenoids and flavonoids. Low in calories but nutrient-dense, it is a healthy choice to eat raw or cooked, especially to boost immunity, support bone health, and fight oxidative stress.

As for care, 'Winterbor' is very easy to grow, as it requires little space. Note, however, that like almost all cabbages, its cultivation requires an excellent base fertiliser and regular moisture. It is robust and not very susceptible to common cabbage pests, although populations of cabbage white butterflies or flea beetles can sometimes be a threat. It benefits from good crop rotation (3 to 4 years before replanting other cabbages in the same spot) to prevent fungal diseases such as downy mildew or clubroot. 

The gardener's little tip: to keep the soil moist in summer and protect from cold in winter, we advise you to mulch the soil with thin successive layers of grass clippings, mixed if possible with dead leaves. This protection, which keeps the soil moist, also limits weeding.

Very common on tables in the Middle Ages, then relegated to fodder cabbages, Kale is experiencing a spectacular craze in the United States for its nutritional qualities. 

 

 

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Cabbage: planting, sowing and harvest
Family sheet
by Virginie T. 15 min.
Cabbage: planting, sowing and harvest
Read article

Harvest

Harvest time January to March, July to December
Type of vegetable Leaf vegetable
Vegetable colour green
Size of vegetable Large
Interest Flavour, Nutritional value, Productive
Flavour spicy
Use Table, Cooking

Plant habit

Height at maturity 80 cm
Spread at maturity 30 cm
Growth rate normal

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour green
Product reference24867

Planting and care

Growing: Kale 'Winterbor' thrives in full sun or partial shade. It is a heavy feeder, requiring well-manured soil rich in nitrogen and potash. It is advisable to apply a generous amount of well-rotted compost (about ¾ kg per m²) in the autumn, raking it in to a depth of 5 cm after thoroughly loosening the soil, as is standard for any vegetable plot.

Plant in spring, from April to May. Dig a hole three times the size of the root ball, place the root ball in the hole and cover with soil. Firm down and water to keep the soil moist. Water regularly at the base, but without overdoing it. Apply a mulch around the base of the plants.

It is not very tolerant of soil pH, which should be between 5.6 and 6.5. In acidic soil, gradually raise the pH by adding calcium in the form of dolomitic lime or garden lime. It is a good companion for many vegetables such as tomatoes and lettuce, but avoid planting it near other Brassicaceae, as well as courgettes, fennel, lamb's lettuce, leeks, and strawberries.

Cultivation

Best planting time April
Recommended planting time March to June

Care

Soil moisture Wet
Disease resistance Good

Intended location

Type of use Container, Vegetable garden
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Soil rich
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light) 130

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