Hi PV,

Here's a thread on this that may (or may not, lol!) be of some help. I WSed these with amazing success this year, but they are already decimated by bugs. I even bought some row cover to use but the bug don't procrastinate like I do, lol!

I never got around to it last year, but I am going to try to outdoor sow some this year.

:)
Dee

Here is a link that might be useful: flowering kale thread

I was confused on this too....
In the hort trade these are started in like late mid July and ready for fall sales for late fall early winter color. They get their best coloring after a few frosts. I spring-sowed mine just to see what would happen. I have them planted on north side of my 4' tall Yarrow plants...the bed runs from far northwest to northeast and these are in the very northeast section. They are pretty protected from the hot noonday sun and have started coloring even at these warm temps. No insect damage yet either...knock on wood!
I have the Sunset Flowering Kale from Pinetree Nursery (superseeds.com).
{{gwi:396354}}
Vera

Thanks for the link, Dee. I remember that thread - especially the pics of Sharon's flowering cabbage. I originally got the 'White Crane' seeds about 4 years ago, thinking I was getting the ones for the colorful cabbage heads I see all the time. Wasn't until later that I realized they were gonna be tall things. Not exactly what I wanted, but I'll sow them anyway.

Vera, went to superseeds to see yours - looks like their 'Sunrise' is the 'White Crane' I got. Like the coloring on yours ...

(Back from a break in posting) ---

I vaguely remembered buying the correct seeds at a later date, so had to check. I did get ornamental cabbage seed from Patrick Studio back in 2005 - 'Everest'. Too bad I can't remember what the coloring on them is supposed to look like.

Aw, the heck with it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'll sow both types early next month and see what happens.

Thanks .........

PV

I wasn't too sure when/where to sow these either. I decided to just go for it, and sowed some flowering kale seeds outside a couple days ago.

Not quite a week ago, I sowed some ornamental cabbage seeds, pansies, and a few other things, and I have a few ornamental cabbage sprouts now. I don't know if I'm too early or too late, but it's worth a try. I may try another sowing in several weeks as well.

Vera, your kale looks really nice, especially considering the warm temps lately. That's encouraging. Of course, I don't know how my teeny sprouts will fare in the heat.

I saved some back too for next month to germinatate indoors....I don't know how I could possibly keep the temps at about 70 for optimum germination temps outdoors! Not a chance.

Vera

It was 94 yesterday and will near or be at 100 today! Supposed to be cooling down tomorrow with some thunderstorms on the way :D

Rain is pretty sparse if not at all after June 01 thru late Sept-October. I think they said we had a total of 1.5" the whole of last month....

Vera

Wah!! After reading this thread, I'm even more upset that my kale and cabbages are gone! They germinated so, so nicely, and were looking so good... Darn. Oh well, I guess I will try again later in the season.

I have the Sunrise and Sunset, as well as more of the White Crane. I also tried the Osaka flowering cabbage and one other kind - Northern Lights, maybe? This time I will have the row covers set up before I even sow the darn things, lol!

:)
Dee