Jersey Kale

Overview

Brassica oleracea var. palmifolia is native to Europe. It is grown for centuries, mostly on the island of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, where its long sturdy stalks were varnished and turned into canes. The leaves are considered excellent forage for animals. It has been cultivated as a food crop for many hundreds of years. The plant is sometimes cultivated for its large, edible leaves, and also for the straight, slender stems, which are used to make walking sticks. The leaves are cooked and have a strong cabbage flavour. It is rich in nutrient and has benefits for human health.

Vernacular Names

Chou palmier (French), Palmkohl (German), Palmkål (Swedish).

Agroecology

Grows best in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil. Prefers a heavy soil. Succeeds in any reasonable soil, and in maritime gardens. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.3 to 8.3. It is not frost tender. Jersey kale can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.

Morphology

• Roots - long taproots.
• Stem - straight, slender, unbranched stem topped by a rosette of leaves.
• Leaves - green, wavy margins, alternate, often glaucous leaves.
• Flowers - clusters of cross-shaped, yellow or white flowers.

Cultivation

• Generatively propagated by seed - sow in a seedbed outdoors in mid spring.
• Plant out in summer as space allows. Do not let the seedlings get overcrowded or they will soon become leggy and will not make such good plants. If your seedlings do get leggy, it is possible to plant them rather deeper into the soil, the buried stems will soon form roots and the plant will be better supported.

Chemical Constituents

Glucoraphanin, sinigrin, gluconapin, gluconasturtiin, glucoerucin, glucobrasscin, and 4-methoxylglucobrassicin.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• It has antioxidant activity and is used as analgesic.
• It is used in the treatment of Alzheimer, obesity, flu, eyestrain, boost immunity, relieve joint pain, etc.