Cavolo Nero - how big is it supposed to get?

[Letitia Shaw]

I planted about 8 cavolo nero plants, thinking they would be similar in size to silverbeet.......however, after well over 4 months they're not really worth mentioning - if I picked all the leaves off all 8 plants it would almost be enough for one meal for two people!  

[Jenny Freewalker]

Hi Letitia, 2 autumns ago l planted a few plants and one kept growing all winter. the leaves weren't huge but the plant just kept growing and would have been over ten feet long before it started to go to seed. lt was great to be able to keep picking all winter long. the white fly do seem to love living on the underside of the leaves.

[HELEN MACKENZIE]

My Cavelo Nero is at least as big as silverbeet but probably because it is planted with lots of compost. Try adding more compost around the plant.

[Brigid]

mine grew enormous and were a grey aphid magnet
but they're quite strucurally stunning in the garden and I ended up with so much off 4 plants we never wanted to see calvolo nero again for quite sometime

[Letitia Shaw]

Thanks Brigid - I think I would rather have your feast than the famine in my garden! :-) What time of year did you plant/grow yours? Also, due to the angle of the sun and large trees, my garden only gets about 2 hours of direct sun in winter......maybe this is the issue???

[Kali]

HI Letitia, no matter how big they are now, they will go to seed soon so you might as well have that meal for 2 before they do! I have grown it twice and they didn't get so big this time but they are 30-40 cm high and just starting to get flower buds on them. depends when you planted them, could it be that you planted them in winter when cold? otherwise brassicas need fairly rich soil in my experience. Definately try again, it is a lovely veg.

[Letitia Shaw]

Thanks Kali. I planted them in autumn from seeds sown late summer. Even from seedling stage they didn't seem to do too well, so next time (and there will definitely be a next time!) I'll do things a bit differently.