Growing kalettes for an incredible 9 month harvest! | free eBook linked below

[@franreichenberg7466]

Thank you Steve, great ebook section. I found it extremely useful to have sections on interplanting and different harvests, and also where kalettes fit into crops rotation......like you we are trying to have a smaller area of better cultivated more intensively used ground with year round crops

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks Fran, I think it's the next frontier, so many small farms are choosing to grow more on less land as a way to improve work/life balance and I think the same applies to home growers too : All the best - Steve

[@londonorganicgrower8538]

You have talked and raved about these for so long I finally weakened a bought a packet of seeds. They had better be good! 🤣🤣

[@SteveRichards]

Only one person didn't like them in the comment thread. They are especially high on my list because of the mid-winter harvest : All the best - Steve

[@AndyBrennan-b2x]

Thanks for your help much appreciated, Andy Alex cov UK.

[@julieandrews555]

Thanks Steve for another informative video. Love the sound of Kalettes which I discovered from your channel and have just pricked out several seedlings. I hope they will become as amazing as yours 🤞

[@SteveRichards]

Let me know how you get on Julie : All the best - Steve

[@crissyliz]

I’ve been growing kalettes for several years now and really enjoy the flavour and ease of growing, although I have yet to produce the magnificence of the kalette plants in your video. I shall look forward to reading your ebook. Thanks so much for this video.

[@SteveRichards]

Hopefully the book will help : All the best - Steve

[@gparker4945]

Oh wow I have sown these and planted out but I had no idea they looked like this! Crazy! Look forward to harvesting my kalettes! Great video thanks

[@SteveRichards]

They are such a great crop, be sure to try the leaves too in summer

[@doaamostafa8515]

Just sown few kalette seeds for the second time. Hoping you tips will give me more success this time round. Thanks😊

[@SteveRichards]

Let me know how you get on : All the best - Steve

[@TheEnglishladyskitchengarden]

Good morning Steve. I had never heard of Kalettes until I found your channel. I have some seeds now ready to start sowing and can hardly wait.

[@SteveRichards]

You do sometimes see them in the supermarket, very expensive though : All the best - Steve

[@bernadettekerbey9117]

Brilliant! I have a tray started under lights right now so I will be reading this chapter several times!

[@SteveRichards]

Great, let me know how they work out! : All the best - Steve

[@christinefarrow5188]

I hadn't heard of kalettes until I started watching your channel. I have some seeds and am going to give them a go. Thanks for all the great info

[@SteveRichards]

Let me know how they work out for you Christine : All the best - Steve

[@bewoodford2807]

I have just come ac ross thi video. It is so useful. I was n't sure when to harves the kalette tops- before or after the kalette harves, but I see from your video that I harvest leaves first, then the tops and lastly the kalettes. I also have a nother and final harvest of the little spears of flower florets, which are so tender and delicious. Thanks Steve for a really informative video- really appreciate your work. 😃, I Absolutely adore kalettes- my fave veg, besides kale in general

[@SteveRichards]

Also a lovely flush of leaves in spring from any grotty kalettes that you leave on the stem

[@nerllybird]

I've watched this twice now and read the relevant section of the ebook. I love how you answer all the questions that might arise and how the info is set out so clearly. Thank you 😊

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks, that's the beauty of an eBook, as people ask questions I just keep updating the book to answer them : All the best - Steve

[@TheTwinsandMe]

I bought some of these for the first time from the supermarket the other day and loved them, so ordered some seeds to grow our own - thank you for the information.

[@SteveRichards]

Even better grown fresh, the supermarket ones are all quite small, I let them grow on a bit bigger myself : All the best - Steve

[@TheTwinsandMe]

@@SteveRichards of course - always better homegrown 😀

[@chilimaus2531]

I have the seeds here since a few years. Now as you repeat on and on that it's your favourite crop I'll give them a try this year - already germinated :) Thank you for the video and your great eBook!

[@SteveRichards]

lol "on and on" can't help myself, perhaps 'favourite' is over-stating it, but I do think they are the best combination of healthy, productive, tasty and expensive, but I like strawberries more : All the best - Steve

[@carolinewilson6479]

very interesting hope tpe grow these in the coming season

[@SteveRichards]

They are a great crop, we will be harvesting most of ours over the next three months : All the best - Steve

[@TheEssexAllotment]

Love kalettes! Cracking crop, I’ve cleared my bed of this seasons, this morning and have loads to harvest from the stalks. Can’t wait 👍

[@SteveRichards]

So under-rated Alex : All the best - Steve

[@cek7940]

Thank you for your teachings steve, your wisdom is very appreciated sir! Happy gardening and many blessings to you and your family 🌻

[@SteveRichards]

So nice of you : All the best - Steve

[@richardpill8322]

Hi Steve, thanks to you we grew them last year and are still harvesting, I agree that they are great plants and taste fantastic steamed. All the best, Rich.

[@SteveRichards]

Hi Rich, we steam them, lots of fancy ways to prepare them, but I think simple is best : All the best - Steve

[@rogerfosdike619]

Hi Steve picking now great crop overwintered them in a cold greenhouse, mentioned your channel and kalletts on an allotment Facebook page I was amazed at the response I got

[@SteveRichards]

I've never tried growing them under cover, but on a windy site I bet they would welcome the extra protection : All the best - Steve

[@SteveRichards]

Amazed in what way Roger? : All the best - Steve

[@rogerfosdike619]

@@SteveRichards hi Steve in the volume of reply’s and the enthusiasm

[@SteveRichards]

@@rogerfosdike619 that's all right then ;-)

[@kieranmeredith1302]

Hi Steve your ebook is a brilliant source of information, especially the information on growing crops all year around. Keep up the good work.

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks Kieran, I've started with the year round focus, it will gradually expand to everything we do : All the best - Steve

[@clarkesminifishroom6010]

Grew these last year. Got a brilliant crop. Didn’t leave them in for a second crop. Didn’t realise they cropped twice. Thanks for that info. I will make sure to leave them In this year.

[@SteveRichards]

Also nice when seeding Simon : All the best - Steve

[@clarkesminifishroom6010]

@@SteveRichards hi Steve. Have you ever collected seed from these. I gave my neighbour a couple plants and they’ve gone to flower. Just wondering if it’s worth asking him to leave them for seed collecting

[@SteveRichards]

@@clarkesminifishroom6010 they are an F1 hybrid Simon, so they won’t breed true : all the best - Steve

[@clarkesminifishroom6010]

@@SteveRichards off course I totally forgot about that. Thanks for getting back to me in such quick time.

[@andyhemmings7363]

Steve, great video. Great info. Fantastic guide. I have some kallettes in one of my beds but they aren't as big as yours. My first time so looking forward to trying them. I will follow your guide for next year's planting so thank you very much. Kind regards from Y Felinheli. (Gwynedd)

[@SteveRichards]

Hope you like them Andy, be sure to try the young tender leaves too, we’ve been eating them since July : all the best - Steve

[@channad8188]

they are the easiest veg to grow i love them

[@perrysrawsoul]

I am about to grow them for the first time ever. Sowing in May into modules then will plant out, is that ok you think?

[@sjk7314]

I didnt know these existed! Will definitely check them out. Thanks!

[@SteveRichards]

let me know how you get on with them! : All the best - Steve

[@robertburns2200]

I grew them for the first time this year and I agree they taste really nice.

[@SteveRichards]

taste great, big crop, long season, thanks for the feedback Robert : All the best - Steve

[@tdfulton1]

Thank you Steve-again for all your info and tips! This new template looks amazing and can’t wait to “dig” into it!! Blessings from TX

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks : All the best - Steve

[@JanesGrowingGarden]

Perfect timing Steve - I've always wanted to try them and this is just the nudge I needed!

[@SteveRichards]

Good luck Jane, let me know how you get on : All the best - Steve

[@sandrinefresne6575]

Second year I am growing them . They keep giving.

[@SteveRichards]

That's what I love about them, well one of the things anyway : All the best - Steve

[@johnnewton3837]

Thank you it encourages me to try. Just need to source the seeds now. We love kallets.

[@SteveRichards]

I just bought a couple of packs for next year off Amazon : All the best - Steve

[@johnnewton3837]

@@SteveRichards thank you for taking the time to reply. I'm looking at amazon shortly.

[@alisonforrester4612]

I love them! My favourites.....

[@SteveRichards]

Another vote of confidence, thanks Alison : All the best - Steve

[@angharadhafod]

I never realised you could (should, even?) eat the leaves earlier in the season. I tried flower sprouts (same thing, I really don't like the name change) from seed a few years ago but failed - due, I think, mainly to poor soil quality. This year I've come back to them, got them growing in some good soil, and the first sprouts look ready to pick now (mid October) - which is what brought me here; to check that I was harvesting at the right time and in the right way. Well maybe I'm a touch early, but I think I might take some of the leaves for Sunday lunch tomorrow.

[@SteveRichards]

I find a few plants come early, for me that's the ones in the front garden, which are all ready for harvesting now, check back tomorrow for a video showing those, you can see my main crop plants (and a comparison with the early crop) in this months tour video, which will be sometime next week. I started harvesting leaves in July, 1 per plant (we have about 20 plants) and I've harvested every week since, always the younger, tender leaves, you can see my leaf harvest in tomorrows video. I like the name Flower Sprouts too, more descriptive. You are not early, remember to leave the plants in after your early harvest, if they are in good soil and get decent light, they most likely will give you a second harvest on sprouts in spring and then a flush of new leaves : All the best - Steve

[@cathy9900]

I'm convinced, I've got seeds on the way 😃

[@SteveRichards]

Excellent, where did you get your seeds Cathy? : All the best - Steve

[@dn744]

Perfect advice

[@susangapper7803]

Hi Steve, I tried Kalettes as you were so happy with them. I planted them out in June, but they have sat there all Autumn and Winter about a foot tall. A nice healthy looking plant, but nothing on the stalk. It's not the best soil being heavy clay. But there's plenty of feed in there with blood fish and bone and chicken manure pellets. Not sure what went wrong?

[@SteveRichards]

You might find when you dig them up that they have cabbage root fly, or club root, i.e. no roots? Other than that it's hard to say, ideally you'd start them earlier, I sow mine mid-March and plant in early May, mine are about 5 ft tall : All the best - Steve

[@hugsnkissesmi3184]

Excellent information and a great job presenting it. I was interested in asking if this was a biennial have you collected seeds and replanted to see if the seeds would produce the same Kalette or would it be a throwback to either Brussel Sprouts or Kale? I do get happy on the forward button do to time constraints and I may have missed that information if it was there. I apologize if this is the case. I will rewatch video again if I don't hear back from you. Have a blessed day.

[@SteveRichards]

It’s an annual, sow March, plant May, harvest leaves from July and Kalettes all through winter, then leaves again in spring, remove in April. You can’t save the seeds it’s an F1 hybrid : all the best - Steve

[@hugsnkissesmi3184]

@@SteveRichards Thank you so much. I wasn't sure how hybrids worked. I appreciate your time and knowledge.

[@SteveRichards]

F1 hybrids are a cross between two varieties, they only breed true for the one generation, after that the results are random : All the best - Steve

[@ronaldandsusanshaws-growing]

Hi Steve, This is one veg I meant to try this year but I have failed to order seeds, I am going to have a go at Kohlrabi this time both red and white to see whether we like them or not along with courgettes, these I have not grown before, where I'm going to find the space to grow this lot it's a puzzle at the moment, my tub of carrots I followed you with are fine, Take care.

[@SteveRichards]

We've grown quite a few Kohlrabi over the years, but it's not made the cut for us, not productive enough : All the best - Steve

[@Dindoes]

Hi. This is a new crop for me. I have a very small garden. Can I grow this in pots and plant out end of August when my chillies finish? I have a small space to plant out in and don’t really like growing in pots especially long season crops

[@SteveRichards]

Maybe, you'd have to start them in late May or early June, grow in big pots and transplant them when it's going to be cloudy and rainy for a few days

[@TheRPBishop]

Excellent as always Steve. Question, please ... would you grow them in containers? If so, any advice, please? Thanks as always!!

[@SteveRichards]

They are big rooted plants Paul, so you'd need a big container, at least 35 litres maybe more for them to really thrive. I've not tried them in containers myself though so I don't really have any experience to offer : All the best - Steve

[@TheRPBishop]

@@SteveRichards thanks ...

[@kevinkolodinsky455]

what do you do with the Main Leaves the first few months.. the majority of the plant. Throw away?

[@SteveRichards]

oh no, we eat the best quality leaves, usually 1 leaf a plant a week. We do the same with the Brussels and that provides most of our loose brassica leaves all through summer and early autumn. In spring if you leave a few of the kalettes on the stem (the lowest quality ones ideally) you get a big flush of new leaf growth, lovely and tender, as well as the flowers, again simillar to Brussels but better : All the best - Steve

[@ToastyTK]

another very informative video where can i get some of that BT caterpillar control from i have looked in all my local garden centres but do not seem to have any

[@SteveRichards]

I got mine from eBay : All the best - Steve

[@TheRPBishop]

@@SteveRichards and Amazon

[@BoB-rf2dv]

Hello Steve. I hope this will get to you since this video is a year old. Motivated by you, I decided to grow Kalette this year (so it is all your fault). My Kalette seedlings are about 6 inches (15cm) tall. They are VERY sturdy and healthy but still have another month before I can transplant them outside ( USDA zone 6a high dessert climate last frost date is 9th May). A few of the plants have side shoots, almost like the flower that would be harvested many months from now. My concern is, should I be removing these side shoots? P.S Have a great time on your hiking trip!

[@SteveRichards]

Hi Bo, I'm a bit confused by this description. The best that I can guess is that you've sowed them too early (I sow mine tomorrow) and that they think they are a year old and are going to seed early. If that's the case - if you have room - they are still worth planting out for an early leaf harvest but I don't think they will be feeding you in winter. They might not be going to seed though, because I'd expect flowers near the top. Also worth noting though is that Kalettes will cope ok with a frost, provided the wind chill isn't too bad, so under a cloche for example they can be planted earlier, for example my early kales/Brussels are all planted out now and our last frost is mid-may. I hope this helps, send me a photo if you want [e-mail] : All the best - Steve

[@phatthand]

Your ebook says to start to harvest leaves in July. My kalettes are 30" tall on July 6. Should I start to remove the lowest leaves now? Do you eat these leaves too or only the kalettes/sprouts?

[@SteveRichards]

Yes, we start harvesting the leaves, in my case it will be in a few weeks as we have an abundance of early kale to work through. I go for the best quality leaves, rather than just the lower ones myself. We use the leaves just like a loose leaf spring cabbage. I've updated my ebook to make this a little clearer : All the best - Steve

[@phatthand]

@@SteveRichards Thanks Steve, I made a little Coleslaw with some leaves last night and steamed/sauteed some with butter and garlic, a little tough but not bad. I'll try to cook longer next time

[@getprobed838]

may i didnt do something right...but i have 2 plants and theyre producing kalettes but not as much as yours...and is almost january 2022....

[@SteveRichards]

There are different varieties, some are later than others. What's great about Kalettes is the flower sprouts are a late winter harvest, the leaves are a late summer and autumn harvest. see my ebook for tips, here's the chapter on kalettes: steverichards.notion.site/Kalettes-1e9e07e27b8f43a0891fd56045a865ee

[@thehillsidegardener3961]

Great video, now watch, everyone will be growing kalettes! I will certainly try though I think they will get ravaged in my hot climate. Two questions: when they are done, can you peel and eat the stems too, like with broccoli, cabbage etc, or is it too woody by then? Because that would be another amazing harvest. And secondly, have you tried saving the seed? I realise they are F1, I just wonder what you would end up with if you maybe tried to limit pollination to amongst the kalettes?

[@SteveRichards]

I've not tried doing that, once peeled what do you do with the stem?

[@thehillsidegardener3961]

​@@SteveRichards It's JUST like kohlrabi, give it a try. Kohlrabi, cabbage stalk, broccoli stalk, cauli stalk etc. we generally like to just nibble raw, or maybe chop into a salad, it seems a shame to cook it and you don't get that much of it, it's more of a snack. When you cut away the very gristly "bark" you get a lovely tender centre. If this is the same then you will get quite a lot of it and then you can probably cook it how you would turnip if you wanted.

[@SteveRichards]

Unfortunately my big plant stems just went to the tip in the green bin, I've a few smaller ones to try : All the best - Steve

[@rarawzone]

Thank you Steve, when you harvest your one leaf per plant per week, do you use the leaf stalk in cooking, leave it on the stem or remove and discard?

[@SteveRichards]

We only use the leaf Richard, that's not to say the the stalk isn't good to eat - we've not tried it - just that it would probably need cooking for longer : All the best - Steve

[@rarawzone]

@@SteveRichards Thanks for your response Steve, Photo attached. I hope the leaves aren't too big for eating.

[@LickorishAllsorts]

Kalettes are easily the family's favourite greens, both leaves and sprouts. And if you have any survivors in March/April the flowering stems are every bit as good as the side shoots from sprouting brocoli. Unfortunately, on the south coast, the small cabbage white is a serious pest.

[@sheelaghomalley3292]

What is a kalette? Do they grow back on kale stem?

[@sheelaghomalley3292]

Sorry ignore my question. Should have watched the whole video

[@justjoanie8068]

How many years do they last? Can they be m9ved at this stage?

[@SteveRichards]

They are grown as an annual, if you want a perennial brassica I think the best option is Taunton Deane kale : All the best - Steve

[@markshaw5835]

Kalettes, think ill have to try these. They look great never tried it always good to try some think new. Where do u get your b.t from?

[@SteveRichards]

eBay Mark, but someone commented that it's on Amazon too : All the best - Steve

[@markshaw5835]

@@SteveRichards i tried amazon but couldnt find any on there for sale

[@SteveRichards]

Here you go Mark www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Xentari-Sumitomo-Bacillus-Thuringiensis-Aizawai-Insetticida-biologico-500gr-libe/313288181673?hash=item48f16e47a9:g:BWMAAOSwH9tfpEMK

[@markshaw5835]

@@SteveRichards thank you

[@linara8085]

Thanks! I have seedlings now, and despite they have just appeared yesterday, they are already tall. Is it good or bad?

[@SteveRichards]

Growing seedlings is all about getting the balance between heat and light correct, it's different for each type of plant. It sounds like they are too warm and not getting enough light. When you prick them out, bury the stems and they will be fine. For more see the chapter of my book on sowing seeds, in the basics section of my book, free to read here: steverichards.notion.site/The-basics-fabeb9d9ba5d4227a63226824a29ac82 : All the best - Steve

[@linara8085]

@@SteveRichards Dear Steve , thank you very much. I am growing my kalettes in the garden now and it seems to be OK thanks you. My kalettes has been for around 2,5 months in the garden already (before that it was at my home as a seedling, cause I planted it in spring ) , however, round rudiments are still not appearing on it, so it looks like a kale plant. Maybe you know when do small round kalettes start to appear?

[@jenniferclarke2165]

Steve, where do you get your seeds for Kalettes please? 👍🏾

[@SteveRichards]

Follow the link in the description Jennifer, those are the seeds I use, I got mine from Wilko, but also Amazon, eBay etc : All the best - Steve

[@karinrodger1952]

This is my first year at growing them, I've sown my seeds, how many plants do you think will be enough for two people? Thanks.

[@SteveRichards]

A big stalk will probably last two people 4 weeks, depends how often you eat them of course : All the best - Steve

[@loritanner4478]

It will take about 9 months to get anything off them. Wasnt thrilled with them at all. Never again.

[@SteveRichards]

You plant them in May Lori and you can start picking the lovely leaves in July, so you only really wait 2 months : All the best - Steve

[@loritanner4478]

@@SteveRichards i did plant them the first of June. And we just pulled them out the end of January. Didn't like them to eat. Was very disappointed in them. But to each their own.

[@SteveRichards]

How did you cook them Lori? The main reason to grow them is the crop from December until April, when there's not many other quality greens available : All the best - Steve

[@sandeepsmatharu]

Can you smoke this?

[@loritanner4478]

I grew them. Yuck. Wasnt thrilled with them. I thought they were going to be like brussel sprouts. No they were just curly clumps of kale. And they took forever! Never again. Same with purple sprouting broccoli. Waste of space and time. Took 9 months for both of them to have anything to harvest. Then when they did. I ripped them out as I didn't like either one. Learned a long lesson on those 2 plants.

[@SteveRichards]

Interesting to have finally found someone who didn't like them Lori, it's taken me years : All the best - Steve

[@CEOAMARU]

First